'•COME TO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE BURDENED, AND i WILL
REFRESH YOU." — Matt. Xl. 28.
GOFFINE'S
DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS
ON THE
EPISTLES AND GOSPELS
FOR THE SUNDAYS AND HOLYDAYS ;
WITH
THE LIVES OF MANY SAINTS OF GOD, EXPLANATIONS OF CHRISTIAN
FAITH AND DUTY AND OF CHURCH CEREMONIES, A METHOD
OF HEARING MASS, MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS,
AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE HOLY LAND.
WITH A PREFACE
BY
HIS EMINENCE JAMES, CARDINAL GIBBONS,
ARCHBISHOP OF BALTIMORE.
NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO
BENZIGER BROTHERS
PRINTERS TO THE I PUBLISHERS OF
HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE BENZIGER*S MAGAZINE
©fcstat.
THOMAS L. KINKEAD,
Censor Librorum.
Ifmprfmatur*
•J« MICHAEL AUGUSTINE,
Archbishop of New York.
NEW YORK, April 29, 1896.
Copyright, 1896, by BENZIGEB BROTHERS,
From His Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore.
"... You have conferred a great benefit on the Catholic community
by reissuing this work, replete as it is with Gospel lessons. The work is
elegantly published, and I hope it will have a wide circulation. . . .
From His Eminence Herbert Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster.
"... The type and the illustrations are excellent, and I trust the
work may be found useful. . . .
From His Eminence Michael Cardinal Logue, Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of all Ireland.
" . . • A very extensive and invaluable collection of instructions and
devotions* Your firm, by publishing this work, has added one other to the
many obligations which the Catholic public so fully acknowledge ; and the
beautiful style in which it is produced is worthy of the high reputation of
your house. . . .
From the Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, P.P., Archbishop of New York.
'* . . . You deserve many thanks and congratulations for the attractive
and finely illustrated and economical edition which you have recently pub
lished. 1 trust it may find a welcome in thousands of Christian homes,
and supplement the voice of the preacher in drawing souls nearer
to God. ..."
From the Most Rev. William Henry Elder, P.P., Archbishop of Cincinnati.
" . . . With very particular pleasure I welcome your new edition of
Gpffine's Instructions, with an introduction by His Eminence Cardinal
Gibbons. And I am glad that you offer it at a reduced price, for it is a book
that I commonly recommend all our families to procure and keep and use
diligently. Particularly for families living at a distance from church, and
not able to attend Mass regularly, GOFFINE'S INSTRUCTIONS for the Sundays
and Festivals will help them more than any other book that I know of to
sanctify the Sunday in the spirit of the Church. ..."
From the Most Rev. Francis Janssens, P.P., Archbishop of New Orleans.
"I strongly recommend GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS. They are
very useful for priests and people. The book te neatly gotten up, and
HJi at a very reasonable price."
iii
IV APPROBATIONS.
From the Most Rev. Frederick Xavier Katzer, P.P., Archbishop of Milwaukee.
"Your book of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS has my full approval,
and I do not doubt that it will have the success it so well merits."
From the Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, P.P., Archbishop of Philadelphia.
" I received your new and much-improved edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT
INSTRUCTIONS, with a Preface by his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, and I beg
to earnestly recommend the volume to both the clergy and laity of my
diocese."
From the Most Rev. L N. Be'gin, P.P., Archbishop of Cyrene, Administrator
of Quebec.
"Your richly illustrated edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS
wjll have the success it so well merits, and the publishers deserve our
congratulations."
From the Most Rev. Angus MacDonald, P.P., Archbishop of St. Andrews and
Edinburgh, Scotland.
"... The work seems to offer a most excellent form of devotions,
combining, as it does, the Church's liturgy with devout and practical
instructions. It ought to be in every family. ' , .
From the Most Rev. John MacEvilly, P.P., Archbishop of Tuam. Ireland.
" . . . It is an excellent and useful book, full of solid and edifying
matter, useful to the clergy to enable them, with comparatively little labor,
to prepare their sermons; useful to the people, for whom it provides solid,
edifying, ascetic knowledge calculated to stimulate them to labor for the
salvation of their souls. It is a book I would wish to see in every library
as a brief repertory of knowledge. . . . '
From the Most Rev. C. O'Brien, P.P., Archbishop of Halifax.
" . , . Your illustrated edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS
is a work admirably adapted for Catholic families, combining as it does
attractions for the young, solid instructions for the more advanced, and a rare
wealth of pious reading for all. Lessons from the Sacred Scriptures, the
prayers of the Liturgy, and the brief, yet suggestive, explanations of the
author, afford spiritual food and nourishment of the most profitable kind
to the soul. I trust it may find a place in every Catholic home. ..."
From the Most Rev. John Walsh, P.P., Archbishop of Toronto.
"... This is indeed an excellent publication, and the many
illustrations with which it is enriched, and the clear, bold type in which it is
printed, make it exceptionally attractive and beautiful. Of the merits of the
work itself it is unnecessary to speak, as they are too well known to
need recommendation. It must suffice to say that it is a most useful
publication for both priests and people, and as such I hope its circulation
will be commensurate with its worth. Your house deserves the greatest
commendation and encouragement for its many valuable Catholic
publications. . . -. '
APPROBATIONS. v
From the Most Rev. P. Goethals, P.P., Archbishop of Calcutta, India.
"... I know this work since a long time, and have always looked
upon it as one of the most substantial and useful productions of our Catholic
popular literature. The new garb in which you present it to-day to the
public increases very much the worth of a book which should be found in
every Catholic family. You may rely on my doing all in my power in
order to spread it amongst the Catholics of my diocese. . . .
From the Most Rev. Fr. Leonard Mellano, O.C.D., D.D.> Archbishop of
Verapoly, India.
«« . . . The new edition of this well-known and much-praised work
commends itself under every respect; its proper printing, fine illustrations,
and low price will, I have no doubt, prepare for it a place on the bookshelf
of every Catholic family, who will find therein whatever it needs to confirm
them in their faith, and guide them in the path of Christian perfec
tion. ..."
From the Right Rev. Edward G. Bagshawe, P.P., Bishop of Nottingham,
England.
"... It appears to be an admirable and most useful work, full of
Holy Scripture, Lives of Saints, and excellent instructions and devotions.
The price is wonderfully low. ...
From the Right Rev. J. M. Barthe, P.P., S. J., Bishop of Trichinopoly, India.
"... This excellent book will be found most useful to Catholic
families. I shall have great pleasure in recommending it strongly to
them. c . . "
From the Right Rev. A. A. Blais, P.P., Bishop of Rimouski, Canada.
" . . . You deserve my best thanks and congratulations for the
new, rich, attractive, and finely illustrated and economical edition which
you have recently published. Moreover, I trust it will find a welcome in
thousands of Christian homes. ..."
From the Most Rev. James Browne, P.P., Bishop of Ferns, Ireland.
"... I consider GOFFINE'S INSTRUCTIONS a most useful book, and
I sincerely hope it may have a wide circulation among Catholics who speak
the English tongue. It seems to me an excellent work. . .
From the Right Rev. W. R. Brownlow, P.P., Bishop of Clifton, England.
" . . . It is a beautiful book, and the pictures will make it attractive
to the young. The Instructions, following as they do the course of the
Christian Year, assist Catholics to enter intelligently into the continuous
course of the teaching contained in the sacred liturgy. . . "
vi APPROBATIONS.
From the Right Rev. Henry Cosgrove, P.P., Bishop of Davenport.
"... I may say that the work itself needs no recommendation, as
it has been favorably received by Catholics for years, but the new edition is
far ahead of any yet issued, whilst the price is within the reach of all. . . . '
From the Right Rev. J. J. Dowling, P.P., Bishop of Hamilton, Ont.
"... I congratulate your firm on the publication of a new and
improved edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS on the Epistles and
Gospels for Sundays and Holydays. It is a work that should be found in
every Catholic household. . . . '
From the Right Rev. John Dunne, P.P., Bishop of Wilcannia, Australia.
"... The edition is indeed worthy of your well-known firm, and
reflects the highest credit on it. To the isolated family unable to hear
Holy Mass on Sunday, it is especially to be recommended for devotion and
instructions. "
From the Right Rev. Paul Durieu, O.M.I., P.P., Bishop of New West
minster, B. C.
"... This book^ being so valuable and so cheap, must have a
complete success* . • .
From the Right Rev. Edward Fitzgerald, P.P., Bishop of Little Rock.
" I am very glad that you are issuing a new edition of that standard
work, GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS. I should like to see a copy of it in
the home of every Catholic family in the diocese, and will call the attention
of the pastors to its value. Please send me as many copies as the inclosed
will buy."
From the Right Rev. J. A. Forest, P.P., Bishop of San Antonio.
*'...! hope this precious book may find its way into every
Catholic family in this country. ..."
From the Right Rev. H. Gabriels, P.P., Bishop of Ogdensburg.
" . . . The book is an old friend that I have used myself and rec
ommended to others. The beautiful yet wonderfully cheap form in which you
brought out a new edition will, I trust, make the work more and more
popular both among the clergy and among the laity. . » . '
From the Right Rev. A. J. Glorieux, P.P., Bishop of Boise City.
"... The illustrations are beautiful and edifying. To show that
I approve it, let it suffice to say that I have used it with profit for several years
to prepare my sermons. ..."
APPROBATIONS. vil
From the Right Rev. L. de Goesbriand, P.P., Bishop of Burlington.
" GOFFINE' s INSTRUCTIONS is an excellent work, which I recommend."
From Right Rev. John J. Grimes, P.P., Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand.
"... I fully endorse every one of the golden words uttered by His
Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons, in favor ot the DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS
of the saintly and learned Leonard Goffine. These Instructions contain
a rich mine of Scriptural knowledge, and they must prove a real boon to our
hard-working but zealous priests. They might well be used as an excellent
text-book for most fruitful meditations. ..."
From the Right Rev. Leo. Haid, O.S.B., P.P., Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina.
" I am glad you gave the English reading public such a splendid edition
of Father Goffine's standard work of instruction and devotion. We cannot
have too many editions of this book; it should be found in every Catholic
family. Well bound, printed on good paper, in large, clear type, profusely
illustrated, your price of $1.00 is certainly very reasonable."
From the Right Rev. John C. Hedley, O.S.B., P.P., Bishop of Newport, Eng.
41 . . . It is a book which I have used for many years, and which
I consider extremely useful, both for priests and for family devotion. The
paper, type, and illustrations are excellent, and the volume is extremely
attractive, ...
From the Most Rev. J. Hoare, P.P., Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise,
Ireland.
"... I consider this an extremely useful and valuable book,
and thefstyle of type and illustrations which you have adopted makes it
most desirable for every Catholic household. I shall not fail to recommend
it.
From the Right Rev. M. J. Hoban, P.P., Coadjutor Bishop of Scranton.
"... I hope that your efforts to provide our Catholic reading
public with good books at low prices will meet with success. It is hardly
necessary for me to write words of commendation of Goffine' s work, as
its merits are well known. "
From the Right Rev. Ignatius F. Horstmann, P.P., Bishop of Cleveland.
"... I know of no better book for family use* I would wish to
see it in every Catholic household* . . .
From the Right Rev. J. Janssen, P.P., Bishop of Belleville.
"... We earnestly recommend this book to Catholic families as a book
excellent for instruction and promoting piety and devotion. . . • '
yiii APPROBATIONS.
From the Right Rev. Richard Lacy, P.P., Bishop of Middlesbrough, Eng.
"... The type is excellent, and the illustrations both well chosen
and well executed. I am glad to see you have been able to place the price at a
very low figure, for such a book ought to find a place in the library of the laity
as well as of the clergy. . . .
From the Right Rev. Paul La Rocque, P.P., Bishop of Sherbrooke, P. Q., Can.
"... A cursory glance at the book, which is all I can give it at
present, suffices, nevertheless, to justify the hope that it will prove very
useful both to priests and laymen, and I hesitate not in recommending it
to the favor of Catholics at large. . . . '
From the Right Rev. N. Z. Lorrain, P.P., Vicar Apostolic of Pontiac, Ont.
"... No better book can be recommended "to Catholic families,
particularly to those living far away from the church, and, consequently,
are unable to attend Mass every Sunday. I will do my best to have this
good and instructive book introduced among the Catholic families of the
Vicariate. . . .
From the Right Rev. Camillas P. Maes, P.P., Bishop of Covington.
"Benziger's Illustrated Goffine's Devout Instructions is a very fine edition
of a very good book, which ought to be the 'home book* of every Catholic
family. Its price is so very low that the poorest can afford to buy it ; its
instructions so thorough as to insure a practical knowledge of the Church,
its commandments and ceremonies to every member of the family."
From the Right Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, P.P., Bishop of Brooklyn.
(Per Secretary.)
"... His Lordship takes pleasure in giving his most hearty
approval and encouragement of your efforts to publish the standard
Catholic devotional works in a very attractive form, and at the same time
at a price to place them within the reach of all. • • •
From the Right Rev. James A. McFaul, P.P., Bishop of Trenton.
"... Permit me to hope that a copy of your New Edition may find
its way into every Catholic home in my diocese, and to congratulate you on
your effort to supply wholesome literature to Catholic families at a
reasonable price. . . . '
From the Right Rev. James McGolrick, P.P., Bishop of Duluth.
u\ ou have done another good work in getting out such an excellent edition
of Gotiine's Devout Instructions. Thousands of Catholic families know its
value; may it be known to many thousands more in the near future."
From the Right Rev. George Montgomery, P.P., Bishop of Monterey and
Los Angeles.
" The new edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS deserves a place
in every home and in every priest's library. The merits, even of the older
edition, are too well known to need repeating."
APPROBATIONS. IX
From the Right Rev. H. P. Northrop, P.P., Bishop of Charleston.
*'...! have always regarded Goffine as about the best substitute
for the sermon we have* ..."
From the Right Rev. Denis O'Connor, P.P., Bishop of London, Ont.
"... It possesses all the advantages that you claim for it, and
it is a credit to your publishing house. I shall not fail to recommend it* as it
must do good to those into whose hands it will fall. . « .
From the Right Rev. R. A. O'Connor, Bishop of Peterborough, Ont.
"... This new edition, with its numerous attractive illustrations,
deserves a place in every Catholic family, on account of the excellent matter
it contains and the low price at which it is sold. ...
From the Most Rev. John K. O'Doherty, P.P., Bishop of Perry, Ireland.
" • • • It is a superb edition of a most valuable work. The paper, the
printing, the illustrations, and the binding combine to render this reissue
of the work most desirable. I require to say nothing of the book as a
vehicle of Catholic teaching. It is admitted to be one of the soundest and
most practical expositions of Catholic doctrine, both doctrinal and moral, which
we have. Clear and simple in its style, conveying useful information in
the plainest and most concise language, it is of the utmost service to the
catechist or lecturer, and admirably suited for family reading. ..."
From the Most Rev. R. Owens, P.P., Bishop of Clogher, Ireland.
"... The book is a valuable repertory of most useful information,
set forth in chaste, beautiful language. I shall have much pleasure in
recommending it to the priests and Catholic laity of the diocese of
Clogher. . . .
From the Right Rev. Stephen Reville, P.P., Coadjutor Bishop of Sandhurst,
Australia.
"GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS, cannot fail to promote piety and
knowledge among the faithful."
From the Right Rev. Henry J. Richter, P.P., Bishop of Grand Rapids.
"... I know of no book that is better adapted for family reading and
devotions, and, therefore, hope that it will have a large sale. . . .
From Right Rev. Lawrence Scanlan, P.P., Bishop of Salt Lake City.
"... A brief examination was enough to show me its superiority over
all previous editions* I am very glad that this already very popular and
useful book has been so greatly enhanced in this twofold respect, by the
beautiful and attractive dress: type, illustrations, and binding, with which
you have presented it to the public. It is a book which on account of its
usefulness and cheapness strongly recommends itself to every Catholic, and
especially to every Catholic family. ..."
X APPROBATIONS,
From the Right Rev. John Sweeny, P.P., Bishop of St. John, N. B.
•' . . . It is an excellent family book, and gives good and
instructive reading for both young and old,, ...
From the Right Rev. M, Tierney, P.P., Bishop of Hartford.
"... The book is well known, and is prized by all who ever used
it. I congratulate you on its new and clear dress, . . .
From Right Rev. E. Torreggiani, P.P., O.S.F.C., Bishop of Armidale, Australia
" . . . It is a book replete with beautiful ideas, and eminently calculated
to promote a true and solid devotion and love towards God, His holy Mother,
and all the saints. It will be productive of an immense amount of good
among the Catholics. This book ought to be found in every priest's
house, every convent and college, and in every family."
From the Right Rev. William Turner, P.P., Bishop of Galloway, Scotland.
" . . . Your new edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT INSTRUCTIONS
possesses in a high degree every merit which you claim, for it» It is indeed a
rich treasury of Instruction and Devotion, but it is too well known to
need commendation. In placing the present noble volume before the
Catholic public you have conferred a most valuable boon on all the
faithful. I know no book which offers to the people so rich a variety
of the very best things. . . .
From the Right Rev. William Vaughan, P.P., Bishop of Plymouth, England.
"... The Right Rev. Dr. Vaughan, Bishop of Plymouth, begs
to acknowledge the receipt of your illustrated edition of GOFFINE'S DEVOUT
INSTRUCTIONS. He blesses your undertaking, and hopes that its wonderfully
low cost will cause its large circulation throughout the Catholic body* . . . '
From the Right Rev. J, Vertin, P.P., Bishop of Marquette.
"We readily approve of and recommend your newest edition of
GOFFINE'S EPISTLES AND GOSPELS."
From the Right Rev. John Virtue, P.P., Bishop of Portsmouth, England.
"... The price of this work is astonishingly low, and ought to
insure its wide circulation. It will give me much pleasure to recommend
it wherever I find an opportunity of doing so. . . . '
From the Right Rev. Joseph M. Emard, P.P., Bishop of Valleyfield, Can.
" . . . Get ouvrage si recommandable sera annonce dans la
Revue Ecclesiastique de Valley field, et signal e specialement a ceux de
nos pretres qui font du ministere en anglais. . . .
From the Right Rev. L. Z. Moreau, P.P., Bishop of St. Hyacinth, Can.
" . . . Cette precieuse publication, qui se recommande beaucoup
par son auteur et par 1'elogieuse preface dont Son Eminence le Cardinal
Gibbons a bien voulu la doter, sera, je n'en doute pas, tres apprecie"e et
goutee du public et les fervents Catnoliques s'empresserront de se la
procurer. . . . '
PREFACE.
y^vFR blessed Lord is the visible expression of God's truth
and of God's love to men, and His temporal mission
contemplated the establishment of that truth and of that love
in the hearts of men. In His redeeming blood we have been
given " the power to become the sons of God " ; and His life
and teachings must be the object of frequent meditation for all
those who have their spiritual advancement seriously at heart.
Deep down within our being we experience a longing to know
which would embrace the universe in its compass. Happy in
deed are we if, with the Apostle, we desire not to know any
thing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He is the explana
tion of all things in heaven and on earth. He is the inspiration
of man in youth, his support in full maturity, and his solace
when the battle of life is drawing to a close. Near His Sacred
Heart innocence finds its purest joy and its safest shelter. The
afflicted lay down their burden at the foot of His cross and go
their way rejoicing. The sinner hears fall from His divine lips
words of pardon and comfort, and dares to be a hero for love of
Him Who has forgiven and forgotten all. We feel the weight
of our infirmities and we would have a remedy.
" Come to Me," says Christ, " all you that labor and are
burdened, and I will refresh you." The mystery of suffering
meets us on every hand, and in Him we are taught " that the
sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared witii the
xii PREFACE.
glory to come. Yet so, if we suffer with Him, we may also be
glorified with Him. ' ' In fine, He is a light to our faltering
feet whilst in the way, and our reward exceeding great when
death shall have been swallowed up in victory. ' ' This is
eternal life," says our divine Lord Himself by the mouth of
St. John, " that they may know Thee, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. ' '
How welcome, therefore, must any book be whose special
purpose is to inspire the faithful with a deeper knowledge and
a more ardent love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the
object which the pious author of the ' * Devout Instructions on
the Epistles and Gospels ' ' proposed to himself. His Translator
represents him truly when he writes : ' ' No exercise of our lives
is more salutary than meditation on the life, death, doctrines, and
example of our divine Saviour. It is milk to children, nour
ishing food to adults, medicine to the sick, salvation to sinners,
consolation to those of little faith, strength to the penitent,
counsel to the just. To the perfect it opens secret mysteries,
and gives to the faithful grace in time and happiness in
eternity." On this sole ground the work affords sufficient evi
dence of its utility for the general faithful.
It has, moreover, this peculiar advantage, that its lessons are
arranged after the order of the ecclesiastical year. The Word
of God possesses in itself a certain sacramental power. Still
the presentation of the Word cannot fail to gain in effectiveness
by reason of association with the object-lessons drawn from the
Church's liturgy. The regular sequence of seasons and festi
vals exhibits the history of our relations with the divine
Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and we must ever con
sider it one of the most happy inspirations of the author, as well
as one of the most salutary features of the book, that the Gospel
of the Word is everywhere reinforced by the ' ' living Gospel of
the ecclesiastical year. ' ' The Church fulfils her divine mission
PREFACE. x
of teaching all nations, not merely by the ministry of the Word,
but also by the practices which she has adopted and the forms
in which she clothes the essence of her worship. Not without
reason, then, must we regard that instruction as most oppor
tune which is given in connection with the holy sacrifice of the
Mass. When, during the celebration of the sacred mysteries,
we reflect upon Him Who for love of us " bore our sins in His
body upon the tree," we are the more encouraged " to die to
sin that so we may live to justice. ' '
The solid worth and undoubted usefulness of Goffine's
Manual appealed strongly to the learned hierarchy of Germany
and elicited their warmest expressions of approval. Gladly do
we profit by the opportunity which a new edition of the work
offers to reaffirm all that has been said in its favor, and to wish
for it that measure of success which its singular excellence
deserves.
JAMES CARD. GIBBONS.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 6, 1896.
MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.
~r EONAED GOFFINE was born at Cologne in the year 1648,
"^ and was received as a Premonstratensian monk on the
18th of July, 1669, at Steinfeld, in the duchy of Juelich, in a
convent which was afterwards secularized. For many years
he had charge of the parishes of Oberstein and Coesfeld, which
he served with praiseworthy zeal. Everywhere he kept the ex
ample of his Lord and Master before his eyes. As we read in
the Acts (i. 1), "Jesus began to do, and to teach," so his
greatest care was, first to correct himself and then to teach
others. Being persuaded that public instruction and the exer
cises of the divine service should be accompanied by Christian
instruction at home, he wrote at Coesfeld, Westphalia, a book
of instruction and devotion, which, under the title of "A
Manual," he caused to be published in the year 1690. In this
work his aim was to instruct thoroughly, in regard to their sub
lime vocation, not only his own parishioners, but also all Chris-
' tians desirous of salvation ; to convince them of the superstition
and errors of the world ; to fill them with a lively faith, with
sweet hope of the goods of eternity, and with a holy love for
God and heavenly things. As his whole conduct showed that
the spirit of God was with him, so even they who opposed his
religion could not withhold from him their respect. He died
August 11, 1719, in the 71st year of his age. His memory
remains in benediction.
Uable of /lDov>able ffeasts.
The
fear of
Our
Lord.
Septua-
gesima.
Ash
Wednes
day.
Easter.
Ascension
Bay.
Whit-
Sunday.
First
Sunday
of
Advent.
1896
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1897
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Feb. 23
Apr. 10
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Nov. 27
1899
Jan. 29
Feb. 15
Apr. 2
May 11
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1900
Feb. 11
Feb. 28
Apr. 15
May 24
une 3
Dec. 2
1901
Feb. 3
Feb. 20
Apr. 7
May 16
May 26
Dec. 1
1902
Jan. 26
Feb. 12
Mar. 30
May 8
May 18
Nov. 30
1903
Feb. 8
Feb. 25
Apr. 12
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May 31
Nov. 29
1904
Jan. 31
Feb. 17
Apr. 3
May 12
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Nov. 27
1905
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Apr. 23
'une 1
une 11
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1906
Feb. 11
Feb. 28
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rune 3
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1907
Jan. 27
Feb. 13
Mar. 31
May 9
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1908
Feb. 16
Mar. 4
Apr. 19
May 28
"une 7
Nov. 29
1909
Feb. 7
Feb. 24
Apr. 11
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Nov. 28
1910
Jan. 23
Feb. 9
Mar. 27
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1911
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Mar. 1
Apr. 16
May 25
Tune 4
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1912
Feb. 4
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Apr. 7
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1913
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May 1
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1914
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1915
Jan. 31
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Apr. 4
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1916
Feb. 20
Mar. 8
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June 1
June 1-
Dec. 3
1917
Feb. 4
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Apr. 8
May 17
May 2"
Dec. 2
1918
Jan. 27
Feb. 13
Mar. 31
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May 19
Dec. 1
1919
Feb. 16
Mar. 5
Apr. 20
May 29
June 8
Nov. 30
1920
Feb. 1
Feb. 18
Apr. 4
May 13
May 23
Nov. 28
1921
Jan. 23
Feb. 9
Mar. ^
May 5
May 15
Nov. 27
1 Q99
JL CJ/v/V
Feb. 12
Mar. 1
Apr. 16
May 25
June 4
Dec. 3
1923
Jan. 28
Feb. 14
Apr. 1
May 10
May 20
Dec. 2
1924
Feb. 17
Mar. 5
Apr. 20
May 29
June 8
Nov. 30
1925
Feb. 8
Feb. 25
Apr. 12
May 21
May 3
Nov. 29
1926
Jan. 31
Feb. 1?
Apr. 4
May 13
May 2
Nov. 28
1927
Feb. 13
Mar. 2
Apr. 17
May 26
June
Nov. 27
1928
Feb. 5
Feb. 22
Apr. c
May 17
May 2
Dec. 2
1929
Jan. 2^
Feb. 13
Mar. 31
May
May 1
Dec. 1
1930
Feb. 16
Mar. t
Apr. 2
May 2
June
Nov. 30
1931
Feb. 1
Feb. 1£
Apr.
May 1
May 2
Nov. 29
1932
Jan. 2-:
Feb. 1C
Mar. 2
May
May 1
Nov. 27
1933
Feb. 12
Mar. 1
Apr. 1
May 2
June
Dec. 3
CONTENTS.
PREFACE BY His EMINENCE
OJUHNAL GIBBONS . 3
MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR . .
TABLE OF MOVABLE FEASTS .
PAGE
7
8
part fffret.
THE SUNDAYS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR.
The Ecclesiastical Year . . 15
Instruciion on Sunday . . 16
Instruction on Feast-days and
Holy-divys 17
Instruction on Fast-days . . 18
Instruction on Blessings . . 19
The Ble&sing of Salt and of
Water 19
Instruction on Advent . . 20
The First Sunday of Advent . 21
The Second Sunday of Advent 25
The Third Sunday OL' Advent 29
The Fourth Sunaay of Advent 32
Christmas Eve 36
Christmas 36
The First Mass a* Midnight 37
The Second Mask at Day
break 40
The Third Mass at Daylight 42
The Sunday after Christmas . 47
New Year's Day, the Feast of
the Circumcision of Our Lord yi
The Tirst Sunday after the Cir
cumcision 54
Epiphany 54
The First Sunday after Epiphany 58
The Second Sunday after Epiph
any 60
The Third Sunday after Epiph
any 64
The Fourth Sunday after Epiph
any 67
The Fifth Sunday after Epiph
any 70
The Sixth Sunday after Epiph
any 73
Septuagesima Sunday ... 75
Sexagesima Sunday ... 79
Quinquagesima Sunday . . 84
Ash Wednesday 87
Instruction on Lent ... 89
Thursday after Ash Wednesday 90
Friday after Ash Wednesday 91
Saturday after Ash Wednesday 92
The First Sundav of Lent . 94
Monday in the First Week of
Lent 97
Tuesday in the First Week of
Lent 98
Wednesday in the First Week of
Lent . 100
Thursday in the First Week of
Lent 101
Friday in the First Week of Lent 102
Baturday in the First Week of
104
10
CONTENTS.
The Second Sunday of Lent . 104
Monday in the Second Week of
Lent 107
Tuesday in the Second Week of
Lent 108
Wednesday in the Second Week
of Lent 109
Thursday in the Second Week
of Lent Ill
Friday in the Second Week of
Lent 113
Saturday in the Second Week of
Lent . 115
The Third Sunday of Lent . 119
Monday in the Third Week of
Lent 122
Tuesday in the Third Week of
Lent 123
Wednesday in the Third Week
of Lent 125
Thursday in the Third Week of
Lent 126
Friday in the Third Week of
Lent 127
Saturday in the Third Week of
Lent ........ 131
The Fourth Sunday of Lent . 136
Consolation in Poverty . 139
Monday in the Fourth Week of
Lent 140
Tuesday in the Fourth Week of
Lent 142
Wednesday in the Fourth Week
of Lent 144
Thursday in the Fourth Week
of Lent 146
Friday in the Fourth Week of
Lent 148
Saturday in the Fourth Week of
Lent '. 152
Passion Sunday 153
Consolation under Insults 156
Monday in Passion Week . . 156
Tuesday in Passion Week . . 157
Wednesday in Passion Week 159
Thursday in Passion Week . 161
Friday in Passion Week . . 163
PAGE
Saturday in Passion Week . 164
Palm Sunday 166
Holy Week 177
Monday in Holy Week . . 177
Tuesday in Holy Week . . 178
Wednesday in Holy Week . 185
Instructions on Tenebree 192
Holy Thursday, or Maundy
Thursday 193
Good Friday 196
Holy Saturday 205
Easter Sunday 208
Easter Monday 211
Easter Tuesday 214
Instruction on what We
Ought to Believe Con
cerning the Holy Scrip
tures 217
Low Sunday, the First Sunday
after Easter 218
How We May Know the
True Church of Christ 220
The Second Sunday after Easter 222
What We Must Believe
Concerning Hope . . 224
The Third Sunday after Easter
—The Patronage of St. Joseph 224
What We are to Believe
Concerning the Evangeli
cal Counsels .... 225
Encouragement to Patience
in Adversity .... 228
The Fourth Sunday after Easter 229
The Fifth Sunday after Easter 231
Explanation of the Lord's
Prayer 233
Kogation-days 234
The Feast of the Ascension . 234
The Sixth Sunday after Easter 237
Pentecost 239
The Gifts of the Holy Ghost 242
Whit-Monday 243
Whit-Tuesday 245
The Sacrament of Confirma
tion 246
Wednesday after Pentecost . . 247
Friday after Pentecost . . .248
CONTENTS.
11
PAGE
Saturday after Pentecost . . 249
Trinity Sunday 250
The Sacrament of Baptism 253
The Most Blessed Trinity 254
First Sunday after Pentecost 254
Corpus Christi 256
The Holy Sacrament of the
Altar 258
Second Sunday after Pentecost 261
Lessons against Impurity 263
Feast of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus 264
The Devotion to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus ... 266
An Offering to the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus 269
Third Sunday after Pentecost 270
Instruction on Intemper
ance 270
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 273
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 277
Remedies for Anger . . 278
Instruction on Swearing 279
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 280
Seventh Sunday after Pente
cost 282
Instruction on Good Works 284
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 285
Instruction on Calumny 287
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 288
Lessons upon Deathbed
Eepentance .... 290
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 292
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 295
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 297
Thirteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 302
Instruction on the Sacra
ment of Holy Orders . 305
Fourteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 306
Consolation in Poverty . 308
Warning against Usury . 309
i~.a.utru
Fifteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 309
On Death 312
Instruction on the Ceremo
nies of the Church at
Burials 313
Sixteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 314
Instruction on Keeping
Holy Sundays and Holy-
days of Obligation . 316
Seventeenth Sunday after Pen
tecost 316
Wednesday following the Seven
teenth Sunday after Pentecost 319
Friday following the Seven
teenth Sunday after Pentecost 321
Saturday following the Seven
teenth Sunday after Pentecost 322
Eighteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 334
On Indulgences ... 326
Nineteenth Sunday after Pente
cost 327
Lessons of Consolation from
the Joys of Heaven . 330
Twentieth Sunday after Pente
cost 331
On the Care of the Sick . 333
Twenty-first Sunday after Pen
tecost 334
Twenty-second Sunday after
Pentecost 337
Twenty- third Sunday after Pen
tecost 339
On Mockery and Ridicule 342
Twenty-fourth and Last Sunday
after Pentecost .... 342
Feast of 'the Dedication of a
Church 345
Practical Lessons on the
Spiritual Temple, which
is Man Himself . 348
CONTENTS.
part Second
CONTAINING AN INSTRUCTION ON THE VENERATION OF THE SAINTS.
LIVES OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN MOST REMARKABLE, AND
EXPLANATIONS OF THE EPISTLES AND GOSPELS
PROPER TO THEIR FESTIVALS.
THE
On the Veneration of the Saints 350
On the Invocation of the Saints 351
Feast of St. Andrew the Apos
tle, November 30 .... 352
Feast of St. Francis Xavier, De
cember 3 355
Feast of the Immaculate Con
ception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, December 8 ... 356
Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle,
December 21 358
Feast of St. Stephen, December
26 360
Feast of St. John the Apostle,
December 27 363
Feast of the Holy Innocents,
December 28 365
Feast of St. Paul the Apostle,
January 25 368
Feast of St. Bridget, Abbess and
Patroness of Ireland, Febru
ary 1 371
Feast of the Purification of the
Blessed Virgin, Candlemas
Day, February 2 .... 373
Instruction for Women
after Childbirth . . 375
Feast of St. Blase, Bishop and
Martyr, February 3 ... 376
Feast of St. Matthias the Apos
tle, February 24 or 25 . . 377
Feast of St. Patrick, Bishop and
Apostle of Ireland, March 17 379
Feast of St. Joseph, March 19 383
Feast of the Annunciation of
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
March 25 386
Instruction on the Angelic
Salutation or Hail Mary 390
Feast of the Seven Dolors of
the Blessed Virgin, Friday in
Passion Week , 390
Feast of SS. Philip and James,
Apostles, May 1 .... 393
Feast of the Finding of the Holy
Cross, May 3 395
On the Sign of the Cross 398
Feast of St. Aloysius, June
21 399
Feast of the Nativity of St. John
the Baptist, June 24 ... 400
Feast of SS. Peter and Paul,
Apostles, June 29 .... 404
Of the Pope 409
Feast of the Visitation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, July 2 411
Explanation of the Canticle
Magnificat .... 413
Feast of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel or of the Scapular,
July 16 414
Feast of the Holy Penitent Mary
Magdalen, July 22 ... 416
Feast of St. James the Greater,
Apostle, July 25 .... 419
Feast of St. Ann, Mother of the
Blessed Virgin, July 26 . 421
Feast of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, August
15 423
Feast of St. Joachim, Sunday
after the Feast of the As
sumption 425
Feast of St. Bartholomew,
Apostle, August 24 ... 427
Feast of the Nativity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Septem
ber 8 428
Feast of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross, September 14 . 431
. Instruction on the Devotion
of the Way of the Cross 432
Feast of St. Matthew the Apos
tle, September 21 .... 433
CONTENTS.
13
Feast of St. Michael the Arch
angel, September 29 ... 436
Feast of the Holy Guardian An
gel, October 2 439
Feast of the Holy Rosary, First
Sunday in October . . . 441
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi,
October 4 444
Feast of the Holy Apostles
Simon and Jude, October 28 447
Feast of All Saints, November 1 449
Explanation of the Eight
Beatitudes .... 451
All Souls' Day, November 2 . 455
Feast of St. Martin, Bishop, No
vember 11 457
Feast of the Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin, November 21 460
Feast of St. Catharine, Virgin
and Martyr, November 25 . 462
part
EXPLANATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND OF SOME OF THE CEREMONIES
OF THE CHURCH.
The Ceremonies 466
The Sacraments 467
Baptism 467
Confirmation .... 470
The Holy Eucharist . . 472
The Sacrament of Penance 474
Indulgences 475
The Sacrament of Extreme
Unction 475
Holy Orders 477
The Sacrament of Matri
mony 477
part ffourtb.
EXPLANATION OF THE MASS; PRAYERS AT MASS AND METHOD OF
HEARING MASS; MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS; PRAYERS
FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS; DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION AND
COMMUNION; DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART; ETC.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
The Altar and Its Meaning 479
An Explanation of the
Vestments Worn at the
Altar
Symbolical Objects Used
during the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass ....
General Ceremonies Ob
served during the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass .
Prayers at Mass
The Preparation . . .
The Confiteor ....
Thelntroit
• The Kyrie Eleison . .
The Gloria
The Collect
The Epistle . .
479
479
481
The Gradual ....
The Gospel
The Creed
The Offertory ....
The Lavabo .
488
488
489
490
492
482
The Orate Fratres
The Preface
The Canon of the Mass .
The Commemoration of the
Living .
493
494
494
4Q«
482
483
483
The Consecration . . .
The Commemoration of the
Tlt/lJ
497
500
483
485
485
486
486
487
The Pater Hosier . . .
The Agnus Dei ....
The Communion . . .
The Post Communion
The Last Gospel . . .
A Method of Hearing Mass
501
502
503
506
507
14
CONTENTS.
Spiritually for Those Who are
Prevented from Going to
Church 508
A Method of Hearing Mass for
Those Who Wish to Unite
their Prayers with those of
the Priest 512
Morning Devotions .... 521
Acts of Adoration, Thanks
giving, Contrition, and
Oblation 521
Petition and Commendation
to God 522
To Mary 523
To Our Guardian Angel . 523
To Our Patron Saints . 523
A Good Intention . . . 524
Acts of Faith, Hope, and
Charity 524
The Litany of the Most Holy
Name of Jesus . . . 525
Prayers to be Said in a
Storm 527
Evening Devotions .... 528
Thanks to God .... 528
Prayer for Light to Know
One's Sins 528
An Act of Contrition . 529
A Resolution of Amend
ment 530
A Commendation and Peti
tion 530
Litany of the B. V. M. . 531
Family Prayers to be Said in
Common 533
Evening Blessing ... 535
Prayer for a Sick Person 535
The Litany of the Saints . . 535
Devotions for Confession . . 542
Devotions for Holy Communion 560
Prayers for the Stations . . 587
Daily Exercises for Various
States in Life 609
Prayer of Married Persons 609
Prayer of a Farm-hand . 610
Prayer of a Servant . . 610
Prayer of a Child ... 610
PAGE
Prayers to be Said with the
Sick 610
Prayer for a Happy Death 611
How to Suffer Sickness and
Death with Merit . . 611
An Act of Faith ... 612
An Act of Hope ... 612
An Act of Charity . . 612
The Memorare .... 613
The Salve Regina ... 613
Prayers for Various Occasions 614
A Prayer for the Church,
the Pope, the Civil Au
thorities, etc. . . . 614
In Any Necessity ... 615
In Any Tribulation . . 615
In Time of Famine or Pesti
lence 615
For Forgiveness of Sins . 615
For Heretics and Schis
matics 616
For Our Friends . . . 616
For the Sick 616
For the Dead .... 616
For a Husband or Wife . 617
For Parents and Their Chil
dren 617
Devotions for the Sick . . . 618
A Prayer to be Repeated
Daily in Time of Sickness 619
Short Acts of the Most
Necessary Virtues . . 620
Holy Communion as a Viaticum 622
Before Receiving the Holy
Viaticum 622
After the Holy Viaticum 623
Extreme Unction .... 624
Prayer before Extreme
Unction 624
Prayer after Extreme Unc
tion 626
Prayer in a Burial-ground 626
Devotions to the Sacred Heart 627
An Hour's Adoration before the
Blessed Sacrament . . . 667
TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND
673
INSTRUCTIONS
ON
THE EPISTLES AND GOSPELS.
PART FIRST.
THE SUNDAYS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR.
TTbe Ecclesiastical
-TITT-HAT is the ecclesiastical year?
VV The ecclesiastical year is the order of seasons and holy-
days, beginning with the first Sunday of Advent and ending
with the last Sunday after Pentecost, during which the Catholic
Church commemorates in her public worship the mysteries and
events of redemption.
Which are the chief holy-days and seasons of the ecclesias
tical year?
The holy seasons are :
1. Christmas, for which Advent is the preparation.
2. Easter, for which Lent is the preparation.
3. Pentecost, extending to the first Sunday in Advent.
"What does the Church commemorate at Christmas?
The infinite love of God the Father, Who, according to His
promise, sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem
mankind. This holy season begins with the first Sunday in
Advent, and ends with the sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
What does the Church commemorate at Easter?
The infinite love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by
His life, His works, His passion, death, and resurrection, accom
plished our redemption, and then ascended into heaven there to
15
16 SUNDAY.
be our mediator. This holy season begins with Septuagesima
Sunday, and ends at the vigil of Pentecost.
What does the Church commemorate at Pentecost?
The infinite love of God the Holy Ghost, Who imparts to
the faithful the fruits of the redemption purchased for them by
Christ. This holy season begins with Pentecost Sunday, and
ends with the last Sunday after Pentecost.
How is the ecclesiastical year divided?
The ecclesiastical year is divided into :
1. The fifty-two Sundays. 2. The week-days. 3. The
feasts. 4. The fast-days.
-THTTHAT is Sunday?
VV Sunday, also called the Lord's Day, is the first day of
the week.
Why has God reserved to Himself one day in each week?
In order that man should rest from work at least one day out
of the seven, and dedicate it to the special service of God, and
to the salvation of his own soul.
Why do we Christians keep Sunday as a holy- day instead of
Saturday, which was the day observed under the Old Law?
The apostles kept Sunday, the first day of the week, as a
holy-day for these reasons: 1. As the Sabbath was a memorial
of the consummation of the work of the creation, so the Sunday
was to remind us of the consummation of the redemption. 2.
On that day Our Lord arose from the dead. 3. On that day
the Holy Ghost descended on the apostles. 4. To intimate
that a new dispensation took the place of the old ; and the diver
sity of the time of divine worship drew a line of distinction
between Christians and Jews.
How should we spend Sunday?
As the design of its institution requires ; that is, holily.
How is Sunday kept holy?
Sunday is kept holy by abstaining from servile labor, and by
works of piety, such as hearing Mass with devotion, listening to
a sermon, receiving Christian instruction, reading good books,
visiting the sick, or other works of spiritual or corporal mercy.
FEAST-DAYS AND HOLY-DAYS. 17
How is Sunday profaned?
Sunday is profaned by unnecessary servile labor ; by neglect
ing to hear Mass ; by intemperance and idleness ; by spending
the day in frivolous, dangerous, and sinful pleasures; and in
general by sinful acts.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast appointed Sunday that on that day we
should serve Thee, and make ourselves partakers of Thy grace,
grant that we may always on that day renew our faith, and be
incited to the praise and adoration of Thy majesty. Through, etc.
3feast>fcass anb
~Tir7"HAT are feasts and holy- days?
* * Days on which the Church celebrates either certain
mysteries of religion, or some passage in the life of Our Lord,
or the memory of the saints.
"Why has the Church established these holy-days?
She has instituted the feasts of Our Lord that we may be led
to remember God's love and mercy to ward us; to meditate upon
the mysteries, truths, and benefits of the Christian religion ; and
to contemplate Jesus as the perfect pattern of a Christian life,
On the feasts of the saints our minds are directed to those heroes
of Christianity, that we may keep in veneration the lives of the
friends of God, and be encouraged to imitate their example.
Has the Church authority to establish holy-days?
Certainly ; for the power which Jesus Christ gave to His
apostles and their successors to bind and to loose upon earth
includes the power to make laws and regulations for the salvation
of the faithful. There is warrant for it, too, in the Old Law,
for under that dispensation the Jews celebrated the Pasch, or
Easter, to commemorate their deliverance from Egyptian bondage ;
Pentecost to thank God for the Ten Commandments of the Law
given to Moses on Mount Sinai ; the feast of Tabernacles in
commemoration of the forty years' journeying througli the
wilderness.
Which are the holy-days of obligation?
The Circumcision of Our Lord, Ascension Day, the Assump
tion of the Blessed Virgin, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate
Conception, and Christmas.
18 FAST-DAYS.
-TITT-HAT are fast-days?
W Those days on which we are allowed but one full meal,
in order to present to God a sacrifice of mortification.
Which are fast-days and which days of abstinence?
Those days on which it is permitted to eat but one full meal
are fast-days of obligation. Days on which we are forbidden to
eat flesh-meat, but are allowed the usual number of meals, are
days of abstinence.
Why has the Church appointed fast-days?
In order that her children should, by fasting, mortify the
flesh, and overcome sensual inclinations ; that by doing penance
they should make satisfaction for sin and become reconciled to
God ; that they should become more fervent in prayer ; that by
conquering their lusts they should gain greater strength for God's
service ; that by denying themselves they should have more for
the poor ; and that by despising worldly pleasures they should
learn to desire only the things of heaven.
Which are the principal fast-days?
1. The forty days of Lent. 2. The ember-days. 3. The
vigils or eves of festivals. 4. The Fridays of Advent.
What are the ember- days?
Days instituted to thank God, each season of the year, for
the benefits received during that season, and to remind the faith
ful, each quarter of the year, of the duty of penance; also to
pray to God for deserving priests, for on those days the ordina
tion of priests usually takes place.
What are vigils?
The vigils are the days before the feasts. The name means
watch, and is taken from the watch-night of the Christians of
the first century, who used to pass the night before a feast in the
church, with prayer, praise, and fasting. Later this preparation
was carried on during the day, instead of the night, and the day
was made a fast- day.
Why does the Church command us to abstain from flesh-
meat on Friday?
The Church commands us to abstain from flesh-meat on
Friday in honor of the day on which Our Saviour died for us.
BLESSINGS. 19
How does the Church sanctify week-days ?
By commemorating on. each week-day some divine benefit or
the memory of some saint, and by providing for the offering of
the holy sacrifice of the Mass, that whosoever can attend may do
so. Every Catholic, therefore, ought each day meditate upon
some divine truths; hear Mass, if in his power; and without
fail say his morning and evening prayers devoutly, that he may
be strengthened to perform his daily labors in a manner pleasing
to God, and patiently suffer the trials of life, while through all
he ascends from virtue to virtue.
Blessings.
is a blessing?
A blessing is that holy act whereby the Church calls
down the divine blessing on persons and things.
Why does the Church bless water, salt, and other things?
That the things which she blesses may avail to the spiritual
and bodily health of those who use them with devotion.
Is there any warrant in Holy Scripture for this custom?
Yes ; we read that Our Saviour Himself blessed little chil
dren (St. Mark x. 16), bread, fish (St. Matt. xiv. 19), and
other things ; and St. Paul tells us : " Every creature of God is
sanctified by the word of God and prayer " (i. Tim. iv. 4, 5).
THE BLESSING OF SAL! ANi; OF WATER.
Holy water is usually blessed every Sunday before Mass.
How is this blessing done?
First the salt is blessed with prayer and exorcism, whereby
the influence of the evil spirit is broken and God's blessing and
protection secured for our souls and bodies. Then the water is
blessed in like manner. The salt is then mingled with the
water in the name of the Triune God, to show that the sprink
ling with holy water may preserve us from the corruption of sin.
For what does the Church use holy water?
To sprinkle the faithful, and everything she blesses and con
secrates. According to the words of the prayers, the effects of
grace should be, cleansing from venial sin and protection of soul
and body against the assaults of the evil spirit.
How should we use holy water?
20 ADVENT.
The devout Christian takes holy water not only on entering
and leaving the church, but also at home on rising and retiring,
going in and going out, and at other times ; always beseeching
God to cleanse him by the merits of Christ's precious blood,
and to protect him from all dangers of soul and body.
Bfcvent.
does Advent mean?
Advent means the coming, and is used by the Church
to represent the four thousand years of preparation for the com
ing of the Eedeemer, and at the same time points us to His
second coming as our judge.
"When is the season of Advent?
The season of Advent comprises the four weeks preceding
Christmas.
"When was the first coming of our Redeemer?
When the Son of God was conceived by the Holy Ghost in
the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was made flesh, to
sanctify the world by His coining.
Was a redeemer necessary?
Yes ; for all men sinned in Adam, and needed to be recon
ciled to God.
Could not the just under the Old Law be saved before the
coming of Christ?
Yes; through the expectation of Him and through His
future merits all might be saved under the Old Law who made
themselves worthy of the grace of Christ by innocence and pen
ance, though they could not be admitted to heaven until Our
Lord's ascension.
When will be the second coming of Christ?
At the end of the world, when Christ will come with great
power and majesty to judge the living and the dead.
Why has the Church appointed the holy season of Advent?
1. That we may consider the wretched state of mankind
before the coming of Christ, and bring before our minds the
mercy of God, Who sent His only-begotten Son down from
heaven for our redemption. 2. That we may prepare ourselves
worthily for Christmas, that Christ may then enter our hearts in
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 21
the fulness of His grace, to renew them and to dwell in them.
3. That we may so prepare ourselves for the second advent that
He may be to us a merciful judge. " Watch ye, therefore,
because you know not what hour your Lord will come ' ' (St.
Matt. xxiv. 42).
Prayer.
O God, Who hast brought joy to the world through Thy
gracious advent, grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy grace, that we
may prepare ourselves by sincere penance for its celebration and
for the Last Judgment. Amen.
jf trst Sunfcas of Htoent*
THIS is the first day of the ecclesiastical year; on it the
Church begins to contemplate the coming of Our Saviour,
and, with the prophets, to long for Him ; she exhorts the faith
ful to true penance for their sins, which oppose Christ's entrance
into their hearts; she sings, therefore, at the Introit of the
Mass, in the words of the psalmist : " To Thee, O Lord, have
I lifted up my soul. ' '
Prayer.
Eaise up Thy power, O Lord, we pray Thee, and come,
that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the
threatening dangers of our sins, and to be saved by Thy deliver
ance. Who livest and reignest, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 11-14.
Brethren : Knowing the season, that it is now the hour for
us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when
we believed. The night is passed and the day is at hand. Let
us therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor
of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day : not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in conten
tion and envy ; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is understood here by sleep f
Sin, in which man, as if sunk in a torpor, no longer sees the
light of the Gospel, no longer hears the warning of his conscience,
neglects the means of salvation, and lives without care, until he
awakes, alas ! too late, as from a dream.
22 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
What is understood by night and day f
By night is to be understood ignorance, infidelity, and sin.
The day represents faith, grace, and reconciliation with God.
"What are the works of darkness f
All sin, especially that which is unknown to men, but seen
and known by God, of Whose grace it deprives us.
What is the armor of light f
It consists in faith, hope, charity, and good works, the
spiritual arms with which we have to overcome the world, the
flesh, and the devil.
What does it mean to put on the Lord Jesus Christ f
It means that Christians should think, speak, and act like
Jesus, adorning themselves by the imitation of Him as with
precious garments.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who became man for us, grant that we
may in all things comply with the admonitions of this epistle ;
that we may arise from the slumber of our sins, and walk in the
light of grace by the diligent performance of good works, and
adorn our souls by putting on Thee, through the imitation of
Thy virtues.
GOSPEL. Luke xxi. 25-33.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be
signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the
earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roar
ing of the sea and of the waves : men withering away for fear,
and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world, for
the powers of heaven shall be moved ; and then they shall see
the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty.
But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up
your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke
to them a similitude : See the fig-tree, and all the trees ; when
they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh.
So you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know
that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this
generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven
and earth shall pass away : but My words shall not pass away.
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
23
"Why does the Church cause this Gospel concerning the Last
Judgment to be read to-day?
To prepare our hearts by penance for the coming of Jesus as
our judge.
What signs shall precede the Last Judgment?
The sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give light, the
stars shall fall from heaven ; the heavens themselves shall pass
away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with heat, and
the earth with all that is in it shall be burned up. At the com
mand of God the world shall be shaken to its centre ; fearful
tempests shall arise ; the sea and wave? shall roar, and wild
struggle and destruction take the place of quiet and order. Men
shall wither away with fear, not knowing whither to fly. Then
shall appear the holy cross, the sign of the Son of man — a terror
to sinners who have hated it, a consolation to- those who have
loved it.
How will the Last Judgment begin?
At the command of God the angels, with tta round of the
trumpet, shall summon all men to judgment (i. These, iv. 15).
24 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
The bodies and souls of the dead shall be again united, and the
wicked shall be separated from the righteous, the just on the
right, the wicked on the left (St. Matt. xxv. 33). The angels
and the devils will be present, and Christ Himself will appear
in a bright cloud with such power and majesty that the wicked,
for fear, will not be able to look at Him, but will say to the
mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, " Cover us" (St.
Luke xxiii. 30).
Why will God hold a general and public judgment?
1. That all may know how just He has been in the particular
judgment of each one. 2. That justice may at last be rendered to
the afflicted and persecuted, while the wicked who have oppressed
the poor, the widow, the orphan, the religious, and yet have often
passed for upright and devout persons, may be known in their
real characters and be forever disgraced. 3. That Jesus Christ
may complete His redemption, and openly triumph over His
enemies, who shall see the glory of the Crucified, and tremble
at His power.
How will the Last Judgment proceed?
The books will be opened, and from them all men will be
judged ; all their good arid bad thoughts, words, and deeds, even
the most secret, known only to God, will be revealed before the
whole world, and according to their works men will be rewarded
or be damned forever. The wicked ' ' shall go into everlasting
punishment, but the just into life everlasting ' ' (St. Matt. xxv.
46).
Exhortation.
The Church, during the season of Advent, reminds thee, O
Christian, of the coming of Christ to judgment, that thou may-
est with the more zeal apply thyself to profit by His first coming ;
for they only will be justified and glorified who have acknowl
edged and received Him as their Redeemer. Examine thyself,
therefore, to-day, and during this week, whether thou hast believed
in Him, loved Him, admitted Him into thy heart, and kept His
holy commands. Begin at once penance and good works, that
thou ma jest with confidence await the judgment- day of the
Lord.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 25
Aspiration.
Thou art just, O Lord! and just is Thy judgment. Oh,
penetrate my soul with holy fear, that I may be kept from evil
deeds, and incited to good works. Would that I could say, with
St. Jerome, " Whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, it is as
if I heard the awful summons of the trumpet, ' Ye dead, arise,
and come to judgment ! '
H
Second Sunfcas of Hfcvent
AVING taught us on the first Sunday of Advent to sigh
with the prophets for the redemption through Christ,
the Church on this day reminds us, in the holy sacrifice of
the Mass, of the joyful promises of God for the salvation of the
gentiles, and of Jesus Christ's actual coming, in order to quicken
our desire for it, and to produce in us an alacrity in making
ready our hearts by penance and love.
For this reason she says in the Introit of the Mass : " People
of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations, and the
Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard in the joy
of your heart." " Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou
that leadest Joseph like a sheep." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the ways of
Thine only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be worthy
to serve Thee with purified minds. Through the same Our
Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. xv. 4-13.
Brethren : What things soever were written, were written for
our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the
Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and
of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another,
according to Jesus Christ : that with one mind, and with one
mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath re
ceived you unto the honor of God. For I say that Christ Jesus
was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm
the promises made unto the fathers. But that the gentiles are
to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written : Therefore will I
26 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
confess to Thee, O Lord, among the gentiles, and will sing to
Thy name. And again He saith : Eejoice, ye gentiles, with
His people. And again : Praise the Lord, all ye gentiles; and
magnify Him, all ye peoples. And again Isaias saith : There
shall be a root of Jesse ; and He that shall rise up to rule the
gentiles, in Him the gentiles shall hope. Now the God of hope
fill you all with joy and peace in believing: that you may
abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
What are we to learn by this epistle?
To be grateful to God for having called us, by His grace, to
the true faith, and for having received us into the bosom of His
holy Church. Again, we are taught that by envy, discord, pride,
and hatred we lose our salvation. Finally, St. Paul refers us to
the Scriptures for instruction.
Why do the Holy Scriptures profit us?
1. They teach, correct, and instruct us in justice, that we
may serve God faithfully, and be ever ready for good works.
2. They sustain our patience in suffering, and our hope of eter
nal life, by many promises, and by the example of Jesus Christ
and His saints.
Why is God called the God of patience, comfort, and hope f
1. Because He looks with patience and long-suffering upon
our sinful lives. 2. Because He gives us grace to carry our
cross with patience and joy, and removes our despair by spiritual
consolation. 3. Because He gives us hope that after this life we
shall possess Him, the object of our desire.
Aspiration.
O God of patience, comfort, and hope, fill our hearts with
joy and peace, and grant that we may become perfect in all good
works by faith, hope, and charity, and that we may attain the
promised salvation.
GOSPEL. Matt. xi. 2-10.
At that time : When John had heard in prison the works of
Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to Him : Art Thou
He that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus mak
ing answer said to them : Go and relate to John what you have
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 27
heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the
Gospel preached to them : And blessed is he that shall not be
scandalized in Me. And when they went their way, Jesus
began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went
you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?
But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments?
Behold, they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses
of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, I
tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is
written : Behold I send My angel before Thy face, who shall
prepare Thy way before Thee.
Why was St. John cast into prison?
Because he rebuked King Herod, who was living in adultery
with the wife of his stepbrother. This teaches us that we
should not be deterred from our duty, though great suffering and
misfortune should thereby befall us. Is it not nobler and more
profitable to our salvation to be a martyr for truth, as St. John
was, rather than to gain favor with the world by timidly looking
on, or by deceitful flattery?
Why did St. John send his disciples to Jesus?
St. John sent his disciples to Christ so that they, too, might
be convinced that He was the Messias.
Superiors and parents should learn from this to see that their
dependents and children are well instructed in the faith.
Why did Christ merely say to the disciples of St. John :
' ' Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen : the
blind see, the lame walk, ' ' etc. ?
Because they ought to have been convinced from the mira
cles He wrought, which were the fulfilment of the prophecies,
that He was the promised Messias.
What was the object of the question, " What went you out
to see?" which Our Saviour asked?
1. To praise the constancy of St. John, who was not to be
deterred from exercising his sacred functions either by the com
mands of Herod or through fear of imprisonment and death. 2.
To approve the austere life of St. John, that we should thereby
be encouraged to crucify the flesh and to do penance.
28 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
Why did Our Saviour say that St. John was more than a
prophet?
Because he was destined to see the Messias, to preach ±
to men, and declare Him to be the Saviour of the world. And
as he was a messenger of God, to announce the coming of Christ
and prepare His way, he was called an angel (Malach. iii. T).
Why did Jesus add, " Blessed is he that shall not be scan
dalized in Me "?
On account of those who would be scandalized at
mility, His poverty, His ignominious suffering and death upon
the cross, and who would, accordingly, despise and reject Him;
although the more He humbled Himself for them the more they
ought rather to love and honor Him.
Why does the Church set before us this gospel?
In order that we, like the disciples of St. John, may, by His
works, recognize Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and that we
may make ourselves worthy of the grace of redemption by doing
penance earnestly and firmly, thus preparing the way of the
Lord in our hearts.
Consolation in Adversities and Afflictions.
What can and should console us in adversity?
1. A firm belief that everything is ordered by God's wise
providence, and that no evil can befall us except by His per
mission, Who never allows us to suffer more than is for our
good. 2. That if we call upon Him in adversity God will help
us, whenever it is expedient for our salvation. Thus to encour
age us He says, " Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will
deliver thee " (Ps. xlix. 15); and, " If God be for us, who is
against us?" (Rom. viii. 31); and " Can a woman forget her
infant so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? and if
she should forget, yet will not I forget thee : behold, I have
graven thee in My hands" (Isaias xlix. 15, 16). 3. That it is
useless to resist Divine Providence, for all who have done so
have been filled with shame and ignominy : " Who hath resisted
Him and hath had peace?" (Job ix. 4.) 4. That our sufferings
when borne with patience and submission lose their sharpness,
and bring us merit and reward. " For that which is at present
momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us, above
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 29
measure exceedingly, an eternal weight of glory ' ' (n. Cor. iv.
17).
Ubirb Sunfca^ ot Hfcvent,
THE nearer the coming of the Lord the more earnestly the
Church calls upon us to rejoice ; and to-day, therefore, at
the Introit of the Mass, she sings in the words of St. Paul :
4 ' Rejoice in the Lord always ; again, I say, rejoice. Let your
modesty be known to all men : the Lord is nigh. Be nothing
solicitous, but in everything by prayer let your petitions be
made known to God." (Phil. iv. 4-6.) " Lord, Thou hast
blessed Thy land; Thou hast turned away the captivity of
Jacob." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully incline Thine ear unto
our prayers, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the
grace of Thy heavenly visitation. Who livest and reignest, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. iv. 4-7.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your
modesty be known to all men : the Lord is nigh. Be nothing
solicitous, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And
the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?
It means to be glad in remembering the grace by which
God called us to the true faith, and gave us the hope of eternal
salvation, and to rejoice even in all our tribulations and adversi
ties for the Lord's sake, as St. Paul did (n. Cor. vii. 4). It
also admonishes us to give a good example by modesty and an
edifying life, and to fix our desires on God, Who will never fail
us if we make our wants known to Him by prayer and supplica
tion, and give Him thanks for benefits received.
In what does the peace of God consist?
It consists in a good conscience, such as St. Paul enjoyed.
It is this peace, this tranquillity of the soul, which sustained the
holy martyrs in their agonies, and consoled others under perse
cution for Christ's sake (St. Matt. v. 11, 12).
30 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
Aspiration.
O Lord, grant that Thy peace, which Thou hast given us,
and which the world knows not, may keep our hearts and minds
in Thee. O wisdom ! proceeding from the mouth of the High
est, and reaching to the ends of the world, who governest with
power and grace, come and direct us all, that we may walk in
the path of wisdom and of the peace which surpasseth all under
standing. Amen.
THE BEST REMEDY IN THE HOUR OF SORROW.
In need, sorrow, and dejection the best means to relieve our
distressed hearts is humble and confiding prayer, in which we
can pour out our hearts before God, and give ourselves up to
His love and mercy, as did Anna, the sorrowful mother of
Samuel the prophet, Josaphat in painful uncertainty, Susanna
falsely accused and condemned to death, and innumerable other
servants of God. These all prayed to God and were delivered
from their afflictions, receiving help and consolation. St. James
therefore admonishes us, " Is any one of you sad? let him pray"
(James v. 13); and St. Paul, in the epistle for this Sunday,
encourages us not to be solicitous about anything, but in every
thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to let our
requests be known to God. Are you, then, sad and discour
aged? Lift up your soul to God, and say with David, " Give
joy to the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, I have lifted
up my soul" (Ps. Ixxxv. 4).
GOSPEL. John i. 19-28.
At that time: The Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and
Levites to John to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed
and did not deny : and he confessed : I am not the Christ.
And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he
said : I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered :
No. They said, therefore, unto him : Who art thou, that we
may give an answer to them that sent us? what sayest thou of
thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilder
ness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet
Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And
they asked him and said to him : Why then dost thou baptize, if
thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? John answered
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 31
them, saying : I baptize with water ; but there hath stood One
in the midst of you, Whom you know not. The same is He that
shall come after me, Who is preferred before me : the latchet of
Whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done
in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Why did the Jews send messengers to John to ask him who
he was?
Because his baptizing and preaching, with his life of austerity
and penance, made such an impression that the people took him
not for an ordinary prophet, but for the Messias Himself.
Why did the messengers ask John whether he was Elias or
the prophet?
The Jews believed that either Elias or another of the proph
ets would return to earth to prepare the way for the coming of
Christ; and from St. John's denying that he was the Christ
they concluded that he was either Elias or that prophet.
Why did St. John say that he was not that prophet, but
only the voice of one crying in the wilderness?
He said so out of humility ; but he uttered no untruth, since
he was not the prophet predicted by Moses (Deut. xviii. 15), but
only u the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight
the way of the Lord," as the prophet Isaias said (Is. Ix. 3).
How do we make straight the way of the Lord?
By sincere penance, which consists not merely in going to
confession, and making hollow resolutions, but in bringing forth
fruits worthy of penance (Matt. iii. 8 ; Luke iii. 8).
How do we bring forth fruits worthy of penance?
If we wish to bring forth fruits worthy of penance, we must
endeavor to make amends for what is past, and use all possible
means to avoid in future those sins to which we have been most
given ; we must love and serve God as much as and more than
we before loved and served the world.
What was the baptism of John, and what was the effect of
it?
It was a baptism of penance, for the forgiveness of sins ; thus
it was a preparation for the Baptism of Christ, through which
sins are actually forgiven, and the Holy Ghost received (Mark
i. 4, 5).
32 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
What are we further taught by this gospel?
We are taught to always speak the truth, like St. John ; not
to desire to appear more, or better, than we are ; and, in par
ticular, to make a good and sincere confession. We should,
therefore, before confession often ask ourselves, 4 ' Who am I ?
How do I live? How do I stand before God? How do I deal
with my neighbor ? ' '
We learn also from St. John to confess our sins without
reserve, neither concealing nor excusing them; above all, we
learn to be humble, for although he might have passed for the
Messias had he chosen to, he refused that honor, and held him
self unworthy to loose the latchet of Christ's shoe.
Prayer.
O Lord, banish from my heart envy, self-love, and pride ;
give me grace so to know Thee and myself that, in contempla
tion of Thy majesty, omnipotence, love and wisdom, and other
perfections, I may love Thee above all things, and in regarding
my own nothingness, misery, and sins may always humble my
self before Thee, and be little in my own eyes. Grant also
that I may judge my neighbor with justness and tenderness, and
love him as myself.
ffourtb Suntms of Hfcvent
THE nearer we approach to the coming of Christ the more
the Church sighs in her prayers for the Saviour of man
kind. She sings, therefore, at the Introit, ' ' Drop down dew,
ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just ' ' (Is.
xlv. 8); "The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the
firmament declareth the work of His hands" (Ps. xviii. 2).
Prayer.
Stir up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come and
succor us with great power, that, by the help of Thy grace, the
indulgence of Thy mercy may accelerate what our sins impede.
Who livest, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Car. iv. 1-5.
Brethren : Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of
Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 33
it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faith
ful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or
by man's day, but neither do I judge my own self. For I am
not conscious to myself of anything : yet I am not hereby justi
fied : but lie that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge
not before the time, until the Lord corne : Who both will bring
to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts : and then shall every man have praise
from God.
How should priests be regarded by the faithful?
The Church wishes to inspire us with respect and veneration
towards priests, who are ministers of Christ, dispensers of the
mysteries of God, and advocates of religion. The Scripture says,
"Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double
honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine"
(i. Tim. v. 17). "He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he
that despiseth you, despiseth Me" (St. Luke x. 16).
Why is this epistle read to-day?
The Church wishes, by pointing to the second advent of
Christ, to remind the faithful to avoid judging their neighbors,
but to judge themselves, and to cleanse their hearts for the re
ception of Jesus as our Saviour, that they may not have to
shrink from Him when He cornes as Judge.
Can priests administer the holy sacraments as they please?
No, for, as the stewards of Jesus Christ, they must observe
His will, which is that they should administer the sacraments
for the glory of God and the salvation of the faithful. They
are not permitted to " give that which is holy unto dogs"
(Matt. viii. 6), and cannot, therefore, give absolution, or any
sacrament, to those who are unfit, lest they thereby condemn
themselves.
Why should they esteem it a small matter to be judged by
men?
Because men generally judge by appearances, and not by
reality. St. Paul says : " If I pleased men, I should not be the
servant of Christ" (Gal. i. 10). But not only priests, the
faithful also, must seek to please God more than men. How
foolish are they who follow all silly and scandalous fashions in
dress, gesture, and manners ; who neglect the holy exercises of
34 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
religion, and ask constantly, " What will the world say?" but
never, "What will my God and Saviour say?" if I do this or
that.
"Why does St. Paul say, "But neither do I judge my own
self"?
Because he could not know how God would judge him,
" For man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred ' '
(Eccles. ix. 1); therefore he adds, " I am not conscious to my
self of anything, yet am I not hereby justified, but He that
judgeth me is the Lord." We should, therefore, examine our
selves thoroughly whether we are in sin ; but if we find nothing
in us which displeases God we are not on that account at liberty
to think ourselves better than others, for before the mirror of
our self-esteem we look quite different to what we are in truth
before God, Who cannot be bribed. Oh, how many, who now
think themselves innocent and holy, shall appear at the day of
judgment stripped of their disguises, and the most secret workings
of their hearts revealed by God to their eternal disgrace ! This
should determine us not to judge before the time, either ourselves
or any one else, of whose hearts we must know even less than
of our own. " Let us therefore work out our salvation with
fear and trembling " (Phil. ii. 12).
Aspiration.
O Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in
Thy sight no man living shall be justified (Ps. cxlii. 2).
GOSPEL. Luke Hi. 1-6.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius
Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of
Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country
of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high
priests Annas and Caiphas : the word of the Lord was made
unto John the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came
into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of
penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book
of the sayings of Isaias the prophet : A voice of one crying in
the wilderness : Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight
His paths. Every valley shall be filled : and every mountain
and hill shall be brought low : and the crooked shall be made
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 35
straight, and the rough ways plain. And all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
Why is the time at which St. John began to preach so mi
nutely described?
Because in that happy year the prophecy of Jacob was ful
filled, and the sceptre being taken from Juda, the long-expected
Messias showed Himself to the world, was baptized by John,
and declared by His Jieavenly Father to be His beloved Son,
Whom men should hear. Accordingly, that this time should
never be forgotten, the evangelist, contrary to his usual custom,
describes it particularly, mentioning the names both of the spir
itual and temporal rulers.
Aspiration.
Oh, that Thy way, Jesus, may be well prepared in my heart !
Alas ! assist me, O my Saviour, to do what I cannot do by my
self. Fill up the valley of my heart with Thy grace, and
straighten my crooked and perverted will, till it shall conform
to Thine own. Soften my rough and unruly mind ; bring low,
36 VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY, OR CHRISTMAS EVE.
destroy, and remove whatever in me impedes Thy way, that
Thou mayest come to me without hindrance, and possess and
govern me forever. Amen.
O
of tbe 1Rati\>it£, or Cbristmas 3£\>e,
CHRISTIAN, for the love of Christ, and for thine own sal
vation, occupy thy mind, during this holy night, with holy
thoughts and aspirations, in order to make thyself worthy of all
the graces which Christ will grant thee on His coming. Con
sider how St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, in obedience
to the edict of Cgesar, and in perfect submission to the will of God,
went to Bethlehem, and, finding no room there, at last entered
an open stable, where they were content to stay. Does not the
Son of God deserve all our love when He thus humbled
Himself for us? Tender Him your heart as an abode, in the
following
Prayer of the Church.
O God, Who givest us joy by the annual expectation of our
redemption, grant that we may securely see Him coming as our
Judge Whom we joyfully receive as our Eedeemer, Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy' Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee for
ever. Amen.
of ©ur 3Lort>, or Cbrfstmas.
CHRISTMAS brings before us the happy day on which, in
the fulness of time, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Ee
deemer, was born of the ever-blessed and immaculate Virgin
Mary, in the stable at Bethlehem.
Why does every priest say three Masses on this day?
1. To give thanks to the ever-blessed Trinity, Who co-oper
ated in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. 2. To honor the three
fold birth of Jesus Christ : His eternal birth in the bosom of
His heavenly Father; His temporal birth of His virgin Mother;
and His spiritual birth in our hearts, which He occupies by His
grace.
Why is the first Mass celebrated at midnight?
The first Mass is said at midnight to remind us that before
Jesus Christ was born the world was without the true light,
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS. 37
and lay in darkness and the shadow of death. Again, it was in
the night that He was born ; and both His temporal and eternal
births are mysterious truths, incomprehensible to our under
standing.
Why is the second Mass celebrated at daybreak?
The second Mass is celebrated at daybreak because the birth
of Christ brought light to the gentiles, whose salvation was then
nigh, and because, according to tradition, it was about that
hour that the shepherds came to see and adore the new-born
Saviour.
Why is the third Mass celebrated at daylight?
The third Mass is said at daylight because Christ dispersed
the darkness of ignorance, and appeared as the Light of the
world (John i. 9 ; Is. Ix. 8).
OF THE FIRST MASS.
The Introit of the first Mass reminds us of the eternal birth
of Jesus Christ: " The Lord hath said to Me, Thou art My
Son, this day have I begotten Thee " (Ps. ii. 7); " Why have
the gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? " (Ps. ii. 1.)
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast made this holy night shine forth with the
brightness of the true Light, grant, we beseech Thee, that we
may enjoy His happiness in heaven, the mystery of Whose light
we have known upon earth. Who liveth and reigneth, etc.
Amen.
EPISTLE. Titus ii. 11-15.
Dearly Beloved : The grace of God our Saviour hath ap
peared to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in
this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the
glory of the great God and Our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave
Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and
might cleanse to Himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good
works. These things speak, and exhort, in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
38 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
How did the grace of God appear to all men?
Through the incarnation of His Son, Whom, in His infinite
love, He made like unto us, to be our brother and teacher, that
we might become children and heirs of God, and co-heirs with
Jesus Christ.
What does Christ teach us by His incarnation?
That we should abandon impiety, infidelity, injustice, and
worldly desires, and love God, and our neighbor, though he be
our enemy, for God's sake. The incarnation also shows the
dignity and greatness of man, for as God gave His only Son for
our redemption, we thereby perceive the worth of man in the
sight of God.
What does the Apostle mean by worldly desires?
He means by them carnal and sensual desires and lusts,
such as impurity, drunkenness, avarice, and such like. Christ
teaches us to renounce these by the poverty, patience, fasting,
and innumerable privations of His life.
How do we live soberly, justly, and piously?
We live soberly when we use temporal goods according to
the intention and will of God, and to supply our necessary
wants; we live justly when we desire for, and render to, our
neighbor what, by the example of Christ, we are bound to;
we live piously when we give God His due honor, love Him
above all things, and love all men, in Christ, for His sake.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 1-14.
At that time there went out a decree from Caesar Augus
tus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling
was first made by Cyrinus the governor of Syria : And all went
to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also
went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea,
to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he
was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary
his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass,
that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that
she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born
Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling-clothes, and laid Him
in a manger : because there was no room for them in the inn.
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
39
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and
keeping the night-watches over their flock. And behold an
angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God
shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear.
And the angel said to them : Fear not : for behold I bring you
good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; for
this day is born to you a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord, in the
city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you : You shall
find the infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God
in the highest : and on earth peace to men of good will.
Why did Csesar Augustus publish a decree that all the Eo-
man subjects should be enrolled?
The immediate reasons of Csesar are not known to us, but
the result shows that it was done by the special providence of
God, for Joseph and Mary were thus obliged to go to Beth
lehem, and so the prophecy of Micheas, that the Messias should
be born there, was fulfilled.
40 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
Why is Christ called the first-born Son of Mary?
Because she had no child before Him ; and, moreover, hav
ing no other after Him, He is also the only-begotten of His
blessed Mother, as He was the first-born and only-begotten of
His heavenly Father (Heb. i. 6).
Why was the Saviour of the world born in a stable?
To show, from His very birth, that He had not come to
establish a splendid worldly kingdom, but a kingdom of grace,
justice, and peace, and to lead us to imitate His example of
poverty, humility, and contempt of the world.
Why was the birth of Christ first announced to the poor
shepherds, and not to the high priests?
To show that God does not distribute His graces through
respect for persons : He exalts the humble, and humbles those
who exalt themselves.
The angels for joy praised God, and sang, " Glory to God
in the highest, "—that is, Praise and thanks to our heavenly
Father for sending His only-begotten Son for the salvation of
men, " and on earth peace" — that is, prosperity, happiness,
salvation, and blessing — "to men of good will."
Learn from the angels to be thankful for all the benefits
which God bestows upon thy neighbor, and then you also will
partake of them. In particular, thank God to-day for the in
expressible benefit of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
OF THE SECOND MASS.
The Introit of this Mass reminds us of the temporal birth oi
Our Saviour in Bethlehem. « ' A light shall shine upon us to-day,
for Our Lord is born to us, and He shall be called Wonderful,
God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to come, of
Whose reign there shall be no end" (Is. ix. 6). "The Lord
hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty ; the Lord is clothed
with strength, and hath girded Himself" (Ps. xcii. 1). Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are
filled with the new light of Thy incarnate Word, may show
forth in our works what faith displays in our mind. Through
the same Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS. 41
EPISTLE. Tttus iii. 4-7.
Uearty Beloved: The goodness and kindness of God our
Saviour appeared : not by the works of justice which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the laver of
regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost, Whom He hath
poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ onr
Saviour : that, being justified by His grace, we may be heirs,
according to hope, of life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What does St. Paul teach us in this epistle?
He teaches us what God has done and is doing that we may
have eternal life, and why He does it. Not by our own
merits, but according to His mercy, He has saved us by holy
Baptism, for we were conceived and born in sin. Let us show
by our lives that we are renewed by the Holy Ghost, and
animated by the hope of life everlasting.
Why did not God have mercy on the fallen angels?
This is a mystery which should heighten our love to God,
but should also fill us with fear and trembling, for if we do not
42 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
use the goodness and kindness of God to our advantage our
punishment will be severer than that of the fallen angels.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 15-20.
At that time the shepherds said one to another: Let us
go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to
pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with
haste : and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying
in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that
had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that
heard wondered : and at those things that were told them by
the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them
in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it
was told unto them.
How could the shepherds know that the new-born child was
the Saviour of the world?
The angels had given them a sign : " You shall find the in
fant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger," and
seeing, they believed, fell on their knees, and adored the child.
They then praised God for the graces they had received, and
made known what they had heard and seen to others.
What do we learn from Mary in this gospel?
That we should ponder the divine truths in our hearts, and,
by this heavenly nourishment, strengthen and preserve our souls
in spiritual life.
OF THE THIRD MASS.
The Introit of the third Mass reminds us of the spiritual birth
of Christ in our hearts. " A child is born to us, and a son is
given to us, and the government is upon His shoulder, and His
name shall be called the Angel of great counsel" (Is. ix. 6).
" Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, for He hath done wonder
ful things" (Ps. xcvii. 1). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth
of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may deliver us, who are
held by the old bondage under the yoke of sin. Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS. 43
EPISTLE. Heb. i. 1-12.
God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in
times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days,
has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of
all things, by Whom also He made the world : Who being the
brightness of His glory, and the figure of His substance, and
upholding all things by the word of His power, making purga
tion of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high :
being made so much better than the angels, as He had inherited
a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels
hath He said at any time : Thou art My Son, to-day have I
begotten Thee? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and
He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in
the first-begotten into the world, He saith : And let all the angels
of God adore Him. And to the angels indeed He saith : He
that maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
But to the Son : Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever : a
sceptre of justice is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast
loved justice and hated iniquity : therefore God, Thy God hath
anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And :
Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth : and the
works of Thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish, but
Thou shalt continue, and they shall all grow old as a garment.
And as a vesture shalt Thou change them and they shall be
changed : but Thou art the self -same, and Thy years shall not
fail.
Meditation.
How magnificently does this epistle set forth the kindness
and love of God the Father, Who, for a teacher, has given us,
not a prophet, but His only Son ! how beautifully does it prove
the divinity of Christ, since God has begotten Him from all
eternity, and created the heavens and earth through Him, Who
is always the same, and His throne forever and ever ! Learn,
O Christian soul, from this epistle, how much thou art obliged
to love God, to trust Him, and to follow Christ thy example,
for without imitating Him thou canst neither belong to His elect,
nor have part in His redemption.
44 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
Aspiration.
O heavenly Father, I thank Thee with my whole heart, for
having spoken to us through Thy only-begotten Son, Whom
Thou hast made better than the angels. I will, O Father of
mercy, listen to Him with gratitude, and use His sublime teach
ings for the perfect enlightenment of my mind and heart.
GOSPEL. John i. 1-14.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was
made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life
was the light of men ; and the light shineth in darkness, and the
darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from
God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to
give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through
him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the
light, that was the true light which enlighteneth every man that
cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world
was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came
unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as
received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God ;
to them that believe in His name. Who are born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us ; and we
saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only-begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
What does St. John mean by the " Word " ?
He means the Son of God, Who is called the Word of the
Father, because He was begotten as the word is produced from
the thought, but in a manner more beautiful and mysterious.
In His divine nature He is one with the Father ; but in person
distinct from Him ; as the word spoken is at the same time one
with Him Who speaks, and yet distinct from Him. He is also
called the Word because it is through Him that the Father has
declared to us His wTill.
What is the meaning of, " in the beginning was the Word,"
etc.?
It means that at the beginning of the world the Son of God
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
45
already was, and, therefore, was begotten of His Father from all
eternity. Thus, at the beginning of his gospel St. John teaches
Christ's eternity, divinity, and equality with the Father.
What is the meaning of, "all things were made by the
Word"?
That the Son of Gcd, Himself true God, with the Father
and the Holy Ghost, cieated all things that were made, both
visible and invisible, in perfect order and beauty (Prov. viii. 30).
What is the meaning of, "in Him was life "?
That, as the living God, He was the source and fountain of
all life.
How was the " Life the light of men " ?
The Eternal Son, Who was the life, was also the light of
men, because He was the Truth to enlighten them with the
knowledge and love of God, that, avoiding sin and ignorance*
they might walk with safety in the way of salvation.
In what sense are we to understand the words, "and the light
shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it"?
46 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, OR CHRISTMAS.
Christ made known the true knowledge of God to men who
were in spiritual darkness, — that is, in error and ignorance, —
but they would not receive His holy teaching. This is still the
sase with those who, notwithstanding the preaching of the Gospel,
Will not believe, and particularly with those hardened sinners
who will not return to God, although He pours upon them the
light of His grace to move them to penance.
Who is meant by him who c ' came to bear witness of that
light"?
St. John the Baptist, who endeavored by his preaching to
prepare the Jews for the coming of Christ, and who testified
before the whole world that He was the expected King and
Messias.
How are we made children of God?
By the grace which we receive in holy Baptism.
What is to be understood by, ' c the Word was made flesh ' ' ?
We are to understand by it that the Word was not changed
into human nature, but that He became incarnate by the Holy
Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, uniting in one
person the two natures, divine and human. He was the God-
man, Who walked among men thirty-three years, marking every
step by favors and benefits. He assumed, says St. Leo, the
nature of man, who was to be reconciled to God, in order that
Satan, the author of death, might be overcome by that same
nature which he had before conquered ; and thus Our Lord and
Saviour vanquished our most cruel enemy, not in majesty, but
in humility.
What is the meaning of, * c and we saw His glory, the glory
of the only-begotten of the Father ' ' ?
The evangelist hereby indicates that he and his fellow-
apostles were permitted to see the glory of the God-man ; for
instance, on Mount Thabor ; in His miracles ; in His glorious
resurrection and ascension. Thus they saw Him and knew
that He was the true Son of God, the fountain of all good, from
which all receive life, and light, and grace (John i. 16).
Aspiration.
O God, Father in heaven, Who, in the form of an amiable
child, hast given to us poor sinners this past night Thy only-
SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 47
begotten Son, born of the immaculate Virgin Mary, to be our
Mediator and Redeemer, we thank Thee with all our hearts for
this inexpressible grace, and beseech Thee, of Thy goodness, to
preserve in us the perpetual memory of it, that, in all our ad
versities and temptations, we may have comfort and consolation,
with strength to love, serve, and praise Thee, in holiness and
purity, until the last hour of our lives. Amen.
after Cbristmas*
Introit of the Mass.
6 ' ~\X 7~HILE a^ things were in quiet silence, and the night was
VV in the midst of her course, Thy almighty Word, O Lord,
leapt down from heaven, from Thy royal throne ' ' (Wis. xviii.
14, 15). " The Lord has reigned; He is clothed with beauty;
the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself"
(Ps. xcii. 1).
Prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, direct our actions so as to be
pleasing to Thee, that, in the name of Thy beloved Son, we
may deserve to abound in good works. Who livest and
reignest, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. iv. 1-7.
Brethren : As long as the heir is a child, he differeth noth
ing from a servant, though he be lord of all : but is under tutors
and governors until the time appointed by the father : so we
also, when we were children, were serving under the elements
of the world. But when the fulness of the time was come, God
sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that He
might redeem them who were under the law, that we might re
ceive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God
hath sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying : Abba,
Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And
if a son, an heir also, through God.
How are we to understand the words, < c God sent His Son,
made under the law, that He might redeem them who were
under the law " ?
St. Paul here speaks to such Christians among the Galatians
48 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
as were formerly Jews, and who supposed themselves yet bound
to keep the observances of the Law of Moses; he shows them
that by His death on the cross He dispensed with the Law,
abolished its types and ceremonies, and redeemed the Jews from
the curse and bondage to which it subjected them, delivering
them thereby from sin and eternal death. We have received
still greater favors than the Jews, because in our ancestors we
were converted from Paganism to Christianity, and from chil
dren of the devil were made by faith heirs of God. Let us
show how we value such blessings by living as children of God,
in faith, love, confidence, patience, and innocence, shunning
sin as the only real evil ; unless we would forfeit our name and
privileges as Christians, and voluntarily become a second time
the slaves of the devil.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 33-40.
At that time Joseph and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were
wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother : Be
hold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of
many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted.
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts
thoughts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser : she
was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband
seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until
fourscore and four years ; who departed not from the temple, by
fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she at the
same hour coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of
Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after
they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the
child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom : and the grace of
God was in Him.
Why did Mary and Joseph wonder at these things ?
They were filled with joyous wonder that Simeon was en
abled by divine inspiration to recognize the child Jesus as tl*3
promised Messias, and to say such great things of Him.
What does it mean to bless ?
SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
49
To give or wish something good to any one ; in the first
of these senses God alone blesses, because all goods of soul or
body which we have, or wish to have, come from Him ; in the
second sense, angels and men may bless us, in wishing us what
ever is good, and in praying for it to God.
Have we examples of blessing in Scripture ?
Yes; an angel blessed Jacob (Gen. xxxii. 29); Jacob, when
dying, blessed his children and grandchildren (Gen. xlviii. 15);
Melchisedech blessed Abraham (Gen. xiv. 19); Rebecca was
blessed by her brother (Gen. xxiv. 60) ; and the priests blessed
the people. Our Saviour also blessed His disciples with up
lifted hands.
Is it good for parents to bless their children ?
Yes; for God fulfils blessings of good parents, as He did
those, for example, of the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob.
"The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the chil
dren, but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundations"
(Eccles. iii. 11).
What virtue is there in the priest's blessing ?
50 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
Yer j great virtue ; because it is given in the name of the
Church, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and comes from
God Himself, Whose ministers and stewards the priests are.
Parents should see that their children are blessed by the priests
who may come to visit them, as the children were brought to
Our Saviour, that He might lay His hands on them, and bless
them (Matt. xix. 13).
How is Christ the fall and resurrection of many in Israel?
He is the fall, that is, the damnation, of those who do not
receive Him, though they know Him to be the Saviour of the
world ; and of those also who believe in Him, and receive His
holy teaching, but do not live according to it. " If Christ had
not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now
they have no excuse for their sin " (St. John xv. 22). He is
the resurrection or salvation of those who believe in Him, re
ceive His doctrine, and live according to it.
What is the meaning of, " He is a sign which shall be con
tradicted"?
This was a prophecy that Jesus Christ, His life, works,
teaching, and institutions should be the object of continual con
tradiction on the part of sensual and worldly wisdom. It was
fulfilled in the blasphemies and persecutions of the Jews and
gentiles, and is confirmed by infidels of all ages, as well as by
those Christians who, as St. Bernard says, contradict His humil
ity by their pride, His poverty by their avarice, His fasting by
their intemperance, His purity by their impurity, His zeal by
their sloth ; thus confessing Him with their lips, but denying
Him by their deeds. They are not faithful and sincere towards
Jesus, and do not love Him, for they do not obey His holy will ;
they are Christians only in name, of whom Christ is not the
resurrection, but the fall, for they are yet the slaves of sin.
What is meant by those words, " thy own soul a sword shall
pierce ' ' ?
That Mary would have to suffer inexpressible pains and sor
rows that would pierce her heart as with a sword. Time made
this plain ; for how often was not her beloved Son pursued and
persecuted? Yet the greatest grief she felt must have been
when she saw her Son in His sufferings and death, hanging, like
a malefactor, on the cross.
NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION. 51
What else is to be learned from this gospel?
First, widows may learn from Anna, who departed not from
the temple, how to serve God, by fasting and prayer, " for the
widow that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living (i. Tim.
v. 6). Secondly, parents may learn to be careful that their
children increase not only in skill and wealth, but rather in the
grace of God, by living pious, edifying, and peaceable lives be
fore God and men.
Exhortation*
To-day is the last Sunday in the year. Ponder with care
on the truths and doctrines which the holy Church has laid be
fore thee in the epistles and gospels ; thank God with thy whole
heart for the great favors and benefits which thou hast received
in the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ; examine thyself
also whether thy faith is living and efficient, that thou mayest
have the hope of being a child and heir of God ; ask thyself
whether, during the past year, Christ has been thy fall or thy
resurrection? hast thou confessed Him in heart and deed, or
hast thou been a Christian only in name? With such exercises
and examinations occupy thy mind until the New Year, that
thou mayest be prepared to begin it worthily.
1Ftew gear's Bag, tbe jFeast of tbe Circumcision of
SLorfc.
"TTTHY do we call this New Year's Day?
W Because the civil year begins on this day, as the eccle
siastical does on the first Sunday in Advent.
What oflght we to do on this day?
We must dedicate the New Year to the service of God, in
order that, assisted by His grace, we may both begin and end it
to His honor, and our own sanctification.
Why do we wish each other a happy New Year?
To renew love and harmony, and to fulfil an obligation of
charity by wishes for each other's happiness and prosperity.
What feast does the Church celebrate on this day?
The circumcision of Christ, at which He received the name
of Jesus. " But when the fulness of time was come, God sent
52 NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISIOK.
His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that He might
redeem them that were under the law ' ' (Gal. iv. 4, 5).
Aspiration.
O my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I thank Thee for hav
ing to-day shed Thy blood for the first time for me. Grant me,
I beseech Thee, the grace of mortifying, circumcising for Thy
love, my eyes, ears, lips, hands, feet, and all my sensual appe
tites, that I may not see, hear, speak, touch, wish, or do any
evil. Amen.
The Introit of the Mass is the same as in the third Mass at
Christmas.
Prayer.
O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of the blessed Mary
hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation, grant,
we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession for
us, through whom we have received the Author of life, Our Lord
Jesus Christ, "Who liveth and reign eth, etc.
Epistle. — (The same as in the first Mass at Christmas.)
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 21.
At that time : After eight days were accomplished that the
child should be circumcised : His name was called JESUS, which
was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Why was Christ circumcised the eighth day of His birth?
1. So that by fulfilling the Jewish law, He might teach us
patience and obedience to the law of God, and to His holy
Church. 2. To show His infinite love to us in the very first
days of His life.
Who gave Him the name of Jesus?
God Himself gave it to Him, Who came to save the world
and sanctify us, for Jesus means Saviour. It is, therefore, that
holy and powerful name, whereby alone we can be saved (Acts
iv. 12).
What power has this name?
A divine power ; for in this name the apostles cast out devils
and cured the sick (Mark xvi. 17, 18), as, for instance, the lame
man who lay at the gate of the temple (Acts iii. 2-6). Through
NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION. 53
this name we receive from God whatever is helpful towards our
salvation (John xiv. 13). It is well, therefore, to call on this
holy name in adversities, in doubts, and in great temptations,
particularly such as are hostile to purity. Even when we are
so unhappy as to fall into sin, the remembrance of this holy
name may bring us back to virtue, for it is as oil which en
lightens, nourishes, and heals (Canticles i. 2, 3).
How must we speak this holy name, that its virtue may be
felt?
With the greatest devotion and veneration, and with un
bounded confidence; for, as St. Paul says, "in the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, on
earth, and under the earth" (Phil. ii. 10). How sinful, there
fore, is it in some to speak this name almost at every word,
frivolously and disrespectfully ; a habit which, in this country
particularly, is so widely and fatally prevalent.
Prayer for New Yearns Day.
O Almighty God, now that we have lived to see another
year, we thank Thy goodness and Thy incomprehensible mercy,
that, from the moment of our birth, we have escaped so many
dangers which have threatened our health and life. Would that
we had never abused the precious time of our life to sin ! but,
alas ! it is done, and we therefore pray Thee, through Thy Son,
and through the precious blood He this day shed in His circum
cision, to look, not upon the multitude of our sins, but upon Thy
infinite mercy; we promise to be henceforth pious, just, and
virtuous ; strengthen us in our weakness ; increase in us faith,
hope, and charity; keep us, by Thy powerful grace, from all
sin, dangers, temptations, and adversities of soul and body;
enable us, we beseech Thee, to offer up to Thee, from this day
henceforth till the hour of our death, all our senses, thoughts,
words, and deeds ; to subject them all to Thy holy will ; to op
pose successfully every evil habit, and to practise every virtue.
Grant, O Father, that we, living and dying in Thy only true
faith, may enjoy in Thy kingdom, where one day is better than
a thousand upon earth, an everlasting New Year of eternal hap
piness, and that we may praise Thee with all Thy angels and
saints, forever and ever. Amen.
54 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE CIRCUMCISION.
jf irst Sunfcas after tbe Circumcision.
rriHE Introit of the Mass, the Prayer, and Epistle are the
J- same as on the Sunday after Christmas.
GOSPEL. Matt. ii. 19-23.
At that time : When Herod was dead, behold an angel of
the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt. Saying : Arise,
and take the child and His Mother, and go into the land of
Israel, for they are dead that sought the life of the child. "Who
arose, and took the child and His Mother, and came into the land
of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the
room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and
being warned in sleep, retired into the quarters of Galilee. And
coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth : that it might be ful
filled which was said by the prophets : That He shall be called a
Nazarite.
Prayer.
O my Saviour and Eedeemer, Jesus of Nazareth, Who didst
subject Thyself to travel as a fugitive upon earth, with no rest
ing-place in which to remain in safety, yet hast now Thy throne
at the right hand of Thy Father in the majesty of God, teach
me to consider this world a foreign land, and my life that of a
pilgrim, that in Thee and Thy Father I may find my home.
Strengthen me by Thy grace to prepare myself worthily for the
land of eternal happiness, and receive me, when I leave this
world, into Thy glory, where Thou livest and reignest with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, for all eternity. Amen.
W
•HAT mystery does the Church celebrate to-day?
She celebrates to-day a threefold mystery: 1. The ar
rival in Bethlehem of the Wise Men from the East to adore the
new-born Saviour; 2. The baptism of Jesus in the Jordan ; 3.
The first miracle of Jesus at the wedding in Cana.
Why is this festival called Epiphany, or the manifestation?
Because in the three events just mentioned Jesus mani
fested Himself not only to the Jews, but also to the gentiles, as
EPIPHANY. 55
the expected Messias, the Kedeemer of the world, and the be
loved of His heavenly Father.
The Church sings to-day with joy at the Introit, " Behold
the Lord, the Kuler, is come, and a kingdom in his hand, and
power and dominion" (Mai. iii. 1). " Give to the king Thy
judgment, O God, and to the king's son Thy justice" (Ps.
Ixxi. 2).
Prayer.
O God, Who didst on this day reveal Thy only-begotten Son
to the gentiles by the guidance of a star, grant in Thy mercy
that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be brought to be
hold the beauty of Thy majesty. Through the same Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Is. Ix. 1-6.
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem : for thy light is come,
and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold dark
ness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people : but the Lord
shall arise upon thee : and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the bright
ness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes round about and see : all
these- are gathered together, they are come to thee : thy sons
shall come from afar and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side.
Then shalt thou see and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and
be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to
thee, the strength of the gentiles shall come to thee. The mul
titude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian
and Epha : all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and
frankincense, and showing forth praise to the Lord.
Of what does the prophet here speak?
He foretells the future manifestation of the light of the Lord
Jesus to Jerusalem, which was a type of the Church, and that
by that light the gentiles should enter into the one Church of
Christ.
Prayer.
" Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth; ye
mountains, give praise with jubilation, because the Lord hath
comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His poor ones "
(Is. xlix. 13).
56 EPIPHANY,
GOSPEL. Matt. ii. 1-12.
When Jesus, therefore, was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in
the days of King Herod, behold, there came Wise Men from
the East to Jerusalem, saying : Where is He that is born King
of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are
come to adore Him. And King Herod hearing this, was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling together all the
chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where Christ should be born. But they said to him, In Beth
lehem of Juda : for so it is written by the prophet : And thou
Bethlehem, the Isnd of Juda, art not the least among the princes
of Juda : for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall
rule My people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the Wise
Men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which ap
peared to them: and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go
and diligently inquire after the child : and when you have found
Him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore
Him. Who having heard the king, went their way : and behold,
the star which they had seen in the East, went before them,
until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing
the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering
into the house, they found the child with Mary, His Mother,
and falling down, they adored Him : and opening their treas
ures, they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having received an answer in sleep that they should not
return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.
Why did the Wise Men come from afar to seek the Saviour
in Jerusalem?
They lived in Arabia, and had acquired some information of
the prophecies of Israel, particularly of the noted prophecy of
Balaam, "A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall
spring up from Israel" (Num. xxiv. IT), which was the more
significant to them because they were, as their name denotes,
skilled in astronomy. But to these human considerations must
be added the light of divine inspiration, as St. Leo says, " The
star shone also in their hearts ' ' — a beautiful example for us to
follow, without delay, the inspirations of divine grace, and to do
the will of God without fear of men.
EPIPHANY.
57
"What was the significance of the presents which the Wise
Men offered to the Saviour?
In offering gold the Wise Men honored the infant Jesus as
King ; in frankincense, as God ; in myrrh, as suffering Man.
How can we offer to Jesus similar gifts?
We can present Him with gold by giving up to Him what
we value most, our will ; also by giving alms in His name to
the poor. We can present Him incense in fervent and devout
prayers ascending to heaven ; and myrrh, by preserving purity
of body and soul.
Prayer.
Give to me, O my divine Saviour, the faith of these Wise
Men ; enlighten my understanding with the light which enlight
ened them ; but move my heart also, that I may follow that
light, and sincerely seek Thee, and Thee only, Who didst first
seek me. Grant that I may find and adore Thee, with the Wise
Men, in spirit and in truth, offering to Thee, like them, gold in
my obedience and alms, incense in my prayers, myrrh in my
penances and mortifications, that, after having brought Thee the
58 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
offerings of my faith on earth, I may adore Thee in Thy eternal
glory. Amen.
ffirst Sunfcas after Epipbans*
AT the Introit of the Mass the Church animates us to adore
and obey God willingly and joyfully. "Upon a high
throne I saw a man sitting, Whom a multitude of angels adored,
singing together, Behold Him, the name of Whose empire is eter
nity " (Dan. vii.). " Sing joyfully to God, all the earth : serve
the Lord with gladness ' ' (Ps. xcix. 2). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy heavenly mercy,
the prayers of Thy suppliant people, that they may both see
what they ought to do, and may be enabled to do what they see.
Through Our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 1-5.
Brethren: I beseech you, by the mercy of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God,
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world,
but be reformed in the newness of your mind : that you may
prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will
of God. For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that
are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise,
but to be wise unto sobriety, and according as God hath divided
to every one the measure of faith. For as in one body we have
many members, but all the members have not the same office :
so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one mem
bers one of another in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How can we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and
pleasing to God?
By keeping the body and its members clean from all sin,
serving God with soul and body. Thus to serve God, with our
soul and body, is our reasonable service, and the vocation of
every Christian.
What does St. Paul mean by the comparison of ' ' one body
and many members ' ' ?
He means that we Christians belong all to one body, the
Church, the head of which is Christ. Now, as all the members
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
59
of the body work for its welfare, so should every Christian
minister to the wants of all in the Church. One should join the
other in the work of salvation ; should instruct or punish, warn,
admonish, or correct, as there is occasion for it. This is true
love, such as we ought to have, one for another, and happy are
we when we thus love in word and deed.
Aspiration.
Grant, O Jesus, that I may present my soul and body a liv
ing sacrifice, holy and pleasing, to Thee, by mortification, hu
miliation, and contrition, and that I may never defile them by
impurity, gluttony, lust, vanity, or pride; give me also Thy
grace, O my Saviour, to love my neighbor as myself, for we
are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 42-52.
When Jesus was twelve years old they going up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the
days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jeru
salem, and His parents knew it not. And thinking that He
60 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought
Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding
Him, they returned into Jerusalem seeking Him. And it
came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple
sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking
them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at
His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they won
dered. And His Mother said to Him : Son, why hast Thou
done so to us? behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sor
rowing. And He said to them : How is it that you sought
Me? did you not know that I must be about My Father's busi
ness? And they understood not the word that He spoke unto
them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth ;
and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all these words
in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and
grace with God and men.
What are we Christians to learn by this ?
That we should never miss an opportunity to go to church,
particularly on Sundays and holy-days, and there assist at the
public services, with inward and outward devotion. Parents
should learn from Joseph and Mary to take their children to
church and school, and to teach them their prayers and the
other exercises of religion.
What lesson does the infant Jesus teach us?
That we also should attend religious instructions, the ser
mon, and catechism, to learn what is necessary in regard to our
salvation.
What do we learn by those words, " Jesus was subject to
them"?
That children should obey their parents. When the God-
Man was thus subject to His poor Mother and to His foster-
father, who was a plain mechanic, those children should blush
who are ashamed of their parents, or refuse to assist them in
their old age, poverty, or distress.
Second Sunday after
T the Introit the Church invites us to thank God for the
incarnation of His only-begotten Son: " Let all the
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 61
earth adore Thee, and sing to Thee, O God ; let it sing a psalm
to Thy name, shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a
psalm to His name, give glory to His praise. ' ' Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God, "Who dost govern all things
in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Thy
people, and grant us Thy peace in our days. Through Our Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 6-16.
Brethren: We have different gifts, according to the grace
that is given us : either prophecy, to be used according to the rule
of faith, or ministry in ministering, or he that teacheth in
doctrine, he that exhorteth in exhorting, he that giveth with
simplicity, he that ruleth with carefulness, he that showeth
mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation.
Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good :
loving one another with the charity of brotherhood : with
honor preventing one another : in carefulness not slothful : in
spirit fervent : serving the Lord : rejoicing in hope : patient
in tribulation : instant in prayer ; communicating to the neces
sities of the saints : pursuing hospitality. Bless them that per
secute you : bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that re
joice, weep with them that weep : being of one mind one
towards another : not minding high things, but consenting to
the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.
What lesson does the Apostle give us in this epistle?
That we should hate that which is evil, and love that which
is good ; that we should love one another, and practise works of
mercy; that we should be solicitous and fervent, as in the
service of God. We should cooperate with the grace of God,
and pray instantly.
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUPERIORS.
They must expect a severe judgment who seek office only for
the sake of emolument, caring little for their duty, and regard
ing bribes and presents rather than justice.
62 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
Aspiration.
O God, give us Thy grace to follow faithfully what St.
Paul teaches us of humility and charity, that we may have com
passion on all who are in need, and not exalt ourselves above
our neighbors, but, humbling ourselves with the humble, may
merit, with them, to be exalted. Amen.
GOSPEL. John ii. 1-11.
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and
the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited,
and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the
Mother of Jesus saith to Him : They have no wine. And
Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is to Me and to thee?
My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters :
Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set
there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the
purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.
Jesus saith to them : Fill the water-pots with water. And they
filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them : Draw
out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And
they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the
water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters
knew who had drawn the water : the chief steward calleth the
bridegroom, and saith to him : Every man at first setteth forth
good wine, and when men have well drank, then that which is
worse ; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This be
ginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested
His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Why was Jesus present at the wedding with His Mother and
disciples?
1. In order there to reveal His majesty, and by that means
to establish and confirm the belief in His divinity. 2. To show
that marriage is pleasing to God. 3. To let us understand how
pious the bridegroom and bride were. 4. To teach us that
those pleasures are permitted which are in accordance with rea
son and Christianity, and neither sinful nor leading to sin.
Why did Mary intercede for the bride and bridegroom when
the wine was failing?
She was sorry for them, for she is the tender-hearted media-
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
63
trix of the afflicted and destitute. Besides, the number of the
guests had been considerably increased by the presence of Jesus
and His disciples, so that the wine was not sufficient for all.
What is the meaning of the words, ' ' Woman, what is that
to Me and to thee?" ?
According to the idiom of the Hebrew language, they mean
as much as, ' ' Mother, be not anxious ; I will provide the wine
as soon as the hour appointed by My Father is come." Jesus
did not mean to rebuke His Mother, but He thus gave her, and
all who were present, to understand that He had not received
the power of working miracles as the son of woman, but that
He possessed it as the Son of God, and should use it according
to the will of His Father.
Aspiration.
I thank Thee, O Jesus, for the grace of knowing Thy
divinity; grant that I may persevere in this knowledge till
death, in order to enjoy the contemplation of Thy Godhead in
eternity.
64 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
T
ttbfrfc Sunfcag after
IHE Church, knowing that she cannot sufficiently love and
praise God, at the Introit of the Mass invites all angels to
praise Him : ' ' Adore God, all you His angels : Sion heard and
was glad, and the daughters of Juda rejoiced. The Lord hath
reigned, let the earth rejoice, let many islands be glad" (Ps.
xcvi.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, mercifully look upon our infirmi
ties, and extend the right hand of Thy majesty to help and de
fend us. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 16-21.
Brethren: Be not wise in your own conceits: to no man
rendering evil for evil : providing good things not only in the
sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible,
as much as in you, having peace with all men. Not revenging
yourselves, my dearly beloved ; but give place unto wrath, for
it is written: Revenge to Me: I will repay, saith the Lord.
But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat ; if he thirst, give
him drink ; for doing this thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his
head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.
What is the meaning of the words, " Eevenge to Me: I
frill repay, saith the Lord "?
They mean that God alone has the right to revenge. " Are
you impatient," says St. Ambrose, " then you will be con
quered : but do you suffer in patience, then you will be con
queror."
"What must we do, then, when our honor is attacked?
When an injury by others brings serious consequences upon
us, it is not only permissible, but even a duty, to defend our
honor and good name. In matters of less importance we should
leave our assailants to God, according to the admonition of the
Apostle.
Is it wrong to wish our neighbor the evil that he wished us?
Certainly ; for it is contrary to the law of God, Who com
mands us ''to love our enemies, to do good to them that hate
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 65
us, and pray for them that persecute and calumniate us ' ' (Matt,
v. 44 ; Luke vi. 35).
How are we to " heap coals of fire on the heads of our ene
mies " ?
When, according to the will of God, we render good for
evil, thereby confounding our enemies and causing them to burn
with shame ; St. Augustine says : ' ' You will heap burning coals
of love on his head, for nothing sooner begets love than to meet
one with love. ' '
Prayer.
Enable me, O heavenly Father, so to follow these admoni
tions of St. Paul in regard to the love of my enemies that I may
be Thy child, Who makest Thy sun to shine upon the evil and
upon the good.
GOSPEL. Matt. viii. 1-13.
At that time, when Jesus was come down from the moun
tain, great multitudes followed Him : and behold a leper came
and adored Him, saying : Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make
me clean. And Jesus, stretching forth His hand, touched him,
saying : I will. Be thou made clean. And forthwith his lep
rosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him : See thou tell no
man : but go show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift
which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. And
when He had entered into Capharnaum, there came to Him a
centurion, beseeching Him, and saying : Lord, my servant lieth
at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented. And
Jesus saith to him : I will come and heal him. And the centu
rion, making answer, said : Lord, I am not worthy that Thou
shouldst enter under my roof ; but only say the word, and my
servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to au
thority, having under me soldiers ; and I say to this : Go, and
he goeth : and to another : Come, and he cometh : and to my
servant : Do this, and he doth it. And Jesus hearing this, mar
velled : and said to them that followed Him : Amen I say to
you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to
you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall
sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom
of heaven : but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out
66 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
into the exterior darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion : Go, and as thou
hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was
healed at the same hour.
Why did the leper say to Jesus, " Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou
canst make me clean "?
Because he believed Jesus to be the promised Messias, Who,
as true God, had the power to heal him. When we pray, we
must be careful not to prescribe to God what He shall give us,
but begin by saying, "If it be pleasing to Thee, and advan
tageous to me, give me this or that grace. ' '
Why did Jesus stretch forth His hand and touch him?
So that he might understand that his leprosy was to be
healed. Let us also imitate the example of Jesus by assisting
each other in sickness, not shirking this work of charity from
aversion or excessive delicacy.
Why did Jesus say, " 1 will, be thou made clean "?
To reveal His almightiness, and to show that all things were
subject to Him.
Why did Jesus say, " See thou tell no man"?
To show His modesty and humility, and to teach us, when
we do good works, not to speak of them, thus losing our reward
(Matt. vi. 2, 3).
What does the Saviour mean by saying, ' ' Go show thyself to
the priest"?
1. Christ wished to show His respect for the law of Moses,
for lepers were required to show themselves to the priests, who
were to decide whether they were clean or not. He also teaches
us that priests should receive their proper respect. 2. He re
minded him who was cleansed to give thanks to God by offer
ing the gift which Moses commanded.
What does the solicitude of the centurion teach us?
That masters and mistresses should take care of their sick
servants, and do what they can to restore them to health.
Why did Our Saviour say, ' i I will come and heal him ' ' ?
To show His profound humility, for although He was God,
and the Lord of lords, He did not hesitate to visit a poor servant.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 67
Why did the centurion say, c ' Lord, I am not worthy that
Thou should st enter under my roof ' ' ?
Out of humility, for he acknowledged Jesus to be Almighty
God.
What is the meaning of the words, " That many shall come
from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham,"
etc.?
Christ meant that many unbelievers shall receive the Gospel,
and, living according to it, shall thereby gain the kingdom of
heaven, while the Jews, who were the chosen people of God,
shall, for their unbelief and sins, be cast out into the exterior
darkness — that is, into the most excruciating pains of hell.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, fountain of consolation, give me the faith and con
fidence of the leper, that I may always trust in Thy almighty
power, and give myself up to Thy divine will. O most humble
Jesus, give me the humility of the centurion, that I may for
the sake of Thee love and assist my neighbor, particularly those
of my household and family, the poor and the sick, and gain an
eternal reward. Amen.
JFourtb Sunfcag atter jEpipbany,
r~pHE Introit of the Mass is the same as on last Sunday.
Prayer.
O God ! Who knowest that, placed amidst so many dangers,
we cannot, through human frailty, stand, grant us safety of
mind and body, that we may, by Thy aid, surmount those
things which we suffer for our sins. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 8-10.
Brethren : Owe no man anything, but to love one another ;
for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. For
thou shalt not commit adultery : Thou shalt not kill : Thou shalt
not steal : Thou shalt not bear false witness : Thou shalt not
covet : and if there be any other commandment, it is comprised
in this word : Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The
68 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
love of our neighbor worketh no evil. Love, therefore, is the
fulfilling of the law.
How are we to understand those words of St. Paul, " He
that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law"?
St. Augustine explains them as follows : " Our love towards
our neighbor must have its origin in the love of God ; for if we
love our neighbor, we must love him for God's sake. Now he
who loves God keeps the first four commandments, for he believes
in God, hopes in Him, loves Him, and honors Him, while he
also loves and honors his parents. But he who loves his neigh
bor keeps the rest of the commandments also, since that love
prevents him from doing any injury to his neighbor, so that he
will not kill, nor steal, nor calumniate, nor bear false witness;
thus he fulfills the law, for " upon these two commandments
depend the whole law and the prophets " (Matt. xxii. 40).
GOSPEL. Matt. viii. 23-27.
At that time, when Jesus entered into the boat, His dis
ciples followed Him : and behold a great tempest arose in the sea,
so that the boat was covered with waves, but He was asleep.
And His disciples came to Him, and awakened Him, saying :
Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them, Why am
you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up He com
manded the winds, and the sea ; and there came a great calm.
But the men wondered, saying, What manner of man is this, for
the winds and the sea obey Him?
Why did Jesus sleep while a great tempest arose in the sea?
1. He thereby tested the faith of His disciples, and con
firmed it by the miracle of their escape. 2. He, by this occa
sion, taught the just and pious not to be scandalized or dis
couraged if God should visit them with affliction, such as sick
ness, poverty, or other miseries. 3. He teaches us also to seek
refuge in Him, and encourages us to hope for help.
Why did Our Saviour reprove His disciples?
Because they showed a want of faith and confidence. Ever
had they been then drowned, such a death would have been to
them the entrance to eternal life. ' ' Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man, . . . but blessed be the man that trusteth in
the Lord " (Jer. xvii. 5, 7). Let us, therefore, in any adversity
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
69
or danger be firm in our belief that God cares for us, and have
confidence in Him and He will hear our prayers, if it be for
our good, as He quieted the wind and the sea with His almighty
word.
What can we further learn from this gospel?
1. How willingly Jesus assists us. 2. That He will protect
His Church in all storms and persecutions, since He, the Al
mighty, is always with her. 3. How willingly we should follow
Jesus, since even the winds and waves obey Him. 4. That we
should not look with indifference at the wonders of God's om
nipotence and benevolence, but from them learn to raise our
thoughts in love to Him. For if those men wondered, saying,
" Who is this? for even the winds and the sea obey Him," how
much rather should we know and love God from the innumer
able miracles of His love and power.
Aspiration.
Grant us, O most benign Jesus, great confidence in Thy
divine assistance whenever we are in need, and allow us not
70 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
to be of little faith. Be our Saviour in the many dangers that
surround us ; make use of Thy omnipotence against our enemies ;
command the impetuous winds and sea of persecution that they
may be calm ; and give peace and quiet to Thy Church, which
Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood, that we may serve
Thee in sanctity and justice, and come safely to the wished-for
haven of eternal happiness. Amen.
ffff tb Sunt>a£ after lEpfpbang.
ON this Sunday the Church reminds us how God tolerates the
wicked, and exhorts us to love Him.
The Introit is the same as on the third Sunday after Epiph
any.
Prayer.
Preserve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy family by con
tinued mercy, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace,
it may be always defended by Thy protection. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
EPISTLE. Cotes, iii. 12-17.
Brethren : Put ye on therefore as the elect of God, holy
and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty,
patience : bearing with one another, and forgiving one another,
if any have a complaint against another : even as the Lord hath
forgiven you, so you also. But above all these things have
charity, which is the bond of perfection ; and let the peace of
Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one
body : and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in
you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in
grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word
or in work, all things do ye in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
Why does St. Paul call charity the bond of perfection?
Because it combines all the virtues of which perfection con
sists. For whoever loves God and his neighbor practises in a
perfect manner all virtues, such as humility, mercy, patience.
St. Paul would have all Christians to be rich, that is, well in-
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 71
strncted in the word of God, that it may console and strengthen
them in all adversities, which purpose is to be attained also by
attending at the public services, where Christians edify one
another by psalms and canticles.
The Apostle further admonishes us to do all, whatsoever we
do, in word or in work — whether it be to eat, or drink, or sleep
— to do all in the name of Jesus, in His spirit and according to
His will ; thus honoring and praising God, our heavenly Father.
GOSPEL. Matt. xiii. 24-30.
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to the multitude, say
ing : The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed
good seed in his field : but while men were asleep, his enemy
came and oversowed cockle among the wheat, and went his way.
And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit,
then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the good
man of the house coming said to him : Sir, didst thou not sow
good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? And he
said to them : An enemy hath done this. And the servants said
to him : Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? And he said :
No ; lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat
72 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and
in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers : Gather up
first the cockle, and bind it in bundles to burn ; but the wheat
gather ye into my barn.
What is to be understood by the kingdom of heaven?
The Church of God, or the congregation of the faithful upon
earth.
What are we to understand by the good seed and the cockle?
By the good seed is meant good Christians, children of God,
who bring forth thousandfold fruit of good works ; the cockle
denotes heretics, infidels, and bad men. We are also to under
stand by the good seed the word of God, and by the cockle
false doctrines and principles.
Who are they that are asleep?
1. Those secular and ecclesiastical superiors who neglect the
obligations of their office, fail to watch over their flock, and to
punish the guilty. In this case it is easy for the devil to cor
rupt the congregation by false doctrine, by mockery of religion,
by bad example, and immoral books. 2. Those Christians who
cease to use the means of salvation by absenting themselves from
divine service, by omitting to receive the sacraments, to hear
the word of God, or to do good works.
Why does not God gather up the wicked, who are the cockle,
ard destroy them?
1. On account of His long-suffering and patience towards
the sinner, whom He gives the opportunity of doing penance.
2. Out of love for the just and righteous; for should He exter
minate the wicked, the just would lose the opportunity of exer
cising many virtues, such as patience, meekness, mercy, purity,
and perseverance to the end, whereby they acquire the merits
of eternal life.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, Who hast sown the good seed of Thy divine word
,n our hearts, grant that it may bring forth in us, many fold,
the fruit of eternal life. Defend us against the enemy, that he
may not sow in us false and wicked doctrines to destroy our good
works ; preserve us from the sleep of sin and sloth, that we may
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 73
watch against the temptations of the world, the devil, and the
flesh, and, having overcome them, may die happily. Amen.
St£tb Sunfcas after JEpfpbans,
H this week the Church concludes the solemnities of
Christmas. At the Introit, which is the same as on the
third Sunday after Epiphany, she calls upon the angels to adore
and praise God for the grace of the incarnation of His divine
Son, which gave joy to the Church and all t>ious men.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that, ever fixing
our thoughts on reasonable things, we may perform, both in
words and works, the things that are pleasing to Thee. Through
Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. Thess. i. 2-10.
Brethren : We give thanks to God always for you all :
making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing,
being mindful of the work of your faith, and labor, and charity,
and of the enduring of the hope of Our Lord Jesus Christ before
God and our Father. Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your
election : for our Gospel hath not been unto you in word only,
but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness,
as you know what manner of men we have been among you for
your sakes. And you became followers of us, and of the Lord,
receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy
Ghost : so that you were made a pattern to all that believe in
Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you was spread abroad the
word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also
in every place, your faith which is towards God, is gone forth,
so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves
relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you ; and
how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true
God, and to wait for His Son from heaven (Whom He raised up
from the dead), Jesus Who hath delivered us from the wrath to
come.
Explanation.
St. Paul wishes grace and peace to the Thessalonians ; gives
them the assurance of his prayers without ceasing, and declares
74 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
his joy at their having received the faith in Christ ; at their be
ing zealous in good works and firm in tribulation, and at their
persevering in the hope of reward, whereby they became a
pattern to others, who were led to embrace the true religion,
and were confirmed in it by their example. Oh, that we could
say the same of Christians of the present day ! Such a life is-
the glory of Christianity. Let us, therefore, endeavor to have
a living faith, shining forth in all good works, with a firm hope
of our salvation, that we too may be an example to unbelievers.
GOSPEL. Matt. xiii. 31-35.
At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes this parable:
The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard- seed, which
a man took and sowed in his field : which is the least indeed of
all seeds : but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs,
and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell
in the branches thereof . Another parable He spoke to them :
The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took
and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened.
All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes : and
without parables He did not speak to them. That it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying : I will open
My mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the
foundation of the world.
"Why are the Church and the doctrines of Christ compared
to a grain of mustard- seed?
Because they are very similar : the mustard-seed, though
small, in Palestine grows to be very high, spreads wide, and is
very prolific. In like manner the Church and doctrine of
Christ, though at the beginning very small, increased so fast,
and in time reached such a large growth, as to surpass all other
religions, so that the princes and wise men of the world sheltered
themselves under the protection of Christianity, as the bird?
dwell under the branches of the tree.
Why are the Church and the doctrines of Christ compared
to leaven?
Because as leaven in a short time penetrates and makes
palatable a large measure of meal, so the Church and the doc
trines of Christ penetrated most rapidly three quarters of the
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 75
globe, corrected the foolish opinions of the heathen, and gave
them a taste lor divine things and heavenly wisdom.
Prayer.
Most amiable Jesus, we thank Thee for having called us to
Thy Church, and for having communicated to us Thy doctrine.
Give us grace to become by it each day better and more pleasing
to Thee, and finally to attain eternal happiness. Enlighten also
the nations living in heresy and darkness, that they may know
Thee, and be delivered from the wrath to come. Amen.
Septua^estma
is this Sunday called Septuagesima?
The word means seventy. According to the First
Council of Orleans, in the year A.D. 545, many pious ecclesi
astics and lay persons of the primitive Church used to fast sev
enty days before Easter, and their fast was called, therefore,
Septuagesima, a name which was afterwards retained to distin
guish this Sunday from others. The same was the case with
the three following Sundays ; many Christians beginning their
fast sixty days before Easter, whence the name Sexagesima;
others fifty days, whence Quinquagesima ; others forty days,
whence Quadragesima.
Why did the first Christians fast seventy days?
Alcuin and Amakrius say that the captivity of the Jews in
Babylon first suggested it ; for as the Jews were obliged to do
penance seventy years, that they might thereby merit to return
into the promised land, so Christians sought to regain the grace
of God by fasting for seventy days.
Why does the Church, from this Sunday until Easter, omit
all joyful chants, as the Te Deum, Alleluia, Gloria in excelsis ?
To remind the sinner of the grievousness of his errors, and
to exhort him to penance. To incite us to sorrow for our sins,
and to show us the necessity of repentance, the Church at the
Introit in the name of all nations unites her prayers with David,
saying : ' < The sorrows of death surrounded me, the sorrows of hell
encompassed me, and in my affliction I called upon the Lord,
and He heard my voice from His holy temple. I will love Thee!
76 SEPTUAGESTMA SUNDAY.
O Lord, my strength ; the Lord is my firmament, my refuge,
and my deliverer" (Ps. xvii. 5-7, 2, 3). Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
Graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, we beseech Thee,
O Lord, that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may be
mercifully delivered, for the glory of Thy name. Through Our
Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. ix. 24— x. 5.
Brethren : Know you not that they that run in the race, all
run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may
obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth
himself from all things, and they indeed that they may receive
a corruptible crown : but we an incorruptible one. I therefore
so run, not as an uncertainty : I so fight, not as one beating the
air: but I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should be
come a castaway. For I would not have you ignorant, breth
ren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed
through the sea, and all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud,
and in the sea: and did all eat the same spiritual food, and all
drank the same spiritual drink (and they drank of the spiritual
rock that followed them; and the rock was Christ), but with
the most of them God was not well pleased.
NOTE. — Keflect, O Christian, what we poor sinners ought to
be willing to do to gain heaven when the great apostle suffered
so much to obtain eternal life.
Prayer.
O Jesus, assist me, that with Thy holy grace I may follow
the example of St. Paul, and endeavor to deny myself, to chas
tise my body, and, by continual exercise of every virtue, to
obtain perfection and everlasting life. Amen.
GOSPEL. Matt. xx. 1-16.
At that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable : The
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
77
kingdom of heaven is like to a householder, who went out early
in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And having
agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into
his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw
others standing in the market-place idle, and he said to them :
Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be
just. And they went their way. And again he went out about
the sixth and the ninth hour: and did in like manner. But
about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing,
and he saith to them : Why stand you here all the day idle ?
They say to him : Because no man hath hired us. He saith to
them : Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening was
come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the
laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even
to the first. When therefore they were come that came about
the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But
when the first also came, they thought that they should receive
more; and they also received every man a penny. And re
ceiving it, they murmured against the master of the house, say
ing : These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made
them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and
the heats. But he answering said to one of them : Friend, I do
thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?
73 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
Take what is thine, and go thy way : I will also give to this last
even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will?
is thy eye evil because I am good? So shall the last be hrst,
and the first last ; for many are called, but few chosen.
In these parables what is to be understood by the master of
a family, the vineyard, the laborers, and the penny?
The master of a family is God, Who calls all men as labor
ers to His vineyard of the true religion, or Church, and to re
ceive the promised penny, which is the divine grace and eternal
salvation.
How and when does God call men?
By the instruction of parents and teachers, by preachers
and confessors, by spiritual books, edifying conversation, good
examples and inspirations ; in early youth, in manhood, and in
old age — which stages of human life are also signified by the
different hours of the day.
Who are the laborers in the vineyard?
Those who work, combat, and suffer for God and His honor,
for their own salvation and that of others, particularly spiritual
teachers.
How should we work in the vineyard of the Lord?
As in a vineyard men must dig, destroy the weeds, cut off
what is useless and bad, manure, plant, and bind, in like manner
must we, in the spiritual vineyard of our souls, destroy the
weeds of vice by rooting out sinful inclinations and their causes,
and by real penance. In other words: 1. We must hate every
sin. 2. We must produce in ourselves a fervent desire to de
stroy vice. 3. We must earnestly beg God's grace, without
which we can do nothing. 4. We must attend zealously at in
structions, sermons, and catechism. 5. We must often go to
confession and communion, and follow our confessor's directions.
6. Every morning we must make firm resolutions, and every
night an examination of conscience. Y. We must read in some
spiritual book, treating of the predominant sin which we have to
root out. 8. We must venerate some saint who in life com
mitted the same sin, as, for instance, Mary Magdalen, who from
being a great sinner became a great penitent. 9. We must fast,
give alms, and do other good works.
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 79
Why did the last man, as mentioned in the gospel, receive
as much as those who came first?
Because God does not reward men according to the time of
their labor, but according to the zeal, love, fidelity, and hu
mility with which they have concurred with His grace (Wis.
iv. 7, 8, 11; n. Cor. ix. 6).
What is meant by i l many are called, but few chosen ' ' ?
It is as if Our Saviour should say, Do not wonder that the
last shall be first, and the first last, for many will not be re
ceived at all. From among the Jews and gentiles He has
called many, but few only have followed Him, and of these
again only few can be the chosen. How many Christians are
there who do not accept His calling, or who fail to live accord
ing to their vocation, neither cooperating with His grace nor
trying forcibly to enter the kingdom of heaven !
Prayer.
O most merciful and benign Lord, Who, without any merit of
our own, hast called us, Thy unworthy servants, out of mere
mercy, into Thy vineyard — the Church — and commanded us to
work therein, grant us grace, we beseech Thee, never to be idle,
but as faithful servants to be always doing Thy holy will.
Whatever we have heretofore left undone, we will in future en
deavor to do with persevering zeal, through the grace of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
name Sexagesima has been explained in the instruction
of last Sunday.) The Introit of the Mass is taken from the
forty-third psalm : ' ' Arise ; why sleepest Thou, O Lord ? Arise,
and cast us not off to the end ; why turnest Thou Thy face
away, and forgettest our trouble? for our soul is humbled down
to the dust ; our belly cleaveth to the earth. Arise, O Lord,
help us, and redeem us for Thy name's sake. We have heard,
O God, with our ears ; our fathers have declared to us. " Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who seest that we confide in no action of our own,
grant, in Thy mercy, that we may be defended from all evils
80 SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.
by the protection of the Doctor of the gentiles. Through Our
Lord. Amen.
EPISTLE, ii. Cor. xi. 19 ; xii. 9.
Brethren: You gladly suffer the foolish: whereas your
selves are wise. For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage,
if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted
up, if a man strike you on the face. I speak according to dis
honor, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any
man dare (I speak foolishly) I dare also : they are Hebrews, so
am I : they are Israelites, so am I : they are the seed of Abra
ham, so am I : they are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one
less wise), I am more : in many more labors : in prisons more
frequently, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. Of the
Jews five times did I receive forty stripes, save one. Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered ship
wreck, a night and a day I wras in the depth of the sea. In
journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own nation, in perils from the gentiles, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
from false brethren : in labor and painfulness, in much watchings,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Besides those things which are without : my daily instance, the
solicitude for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not
weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire? If I must
needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirm
ity. The God and Farther of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is
blessed forever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus, the
governor of the nation under Aretas the king guarded the city
of the Damascenes to apprehend me : and through a window in
a basket was I let down by the wall, and so escaped his hands.
If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed), but I will come to the
visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ
above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or
out of the body, I know not, God knoweth), such an one rapt
even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether
in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell : God knoweth)
that he was caught up into paradise : and heard secret words
which it is not granted to man to utter. For such an one I will
glory : but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmi-
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 81
ties. For though I should have a mind to glory, _ snail- not be
foolish : for I will say the truth : but I forbear, lest any man
should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or anything
he heareth from me. And lest the greatness of the revelations
should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an
angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing thrice I besought
the Lord, that it might depart from me : and He said to me :
My grace is sufficient for thee : for power is made perfect in in
firmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may dwell in me.
By the example of St. Paul the Church would incite us to
work out our salvation by cooperating faithfully with the grace
of God. Let us, like this great apostle, be not irritated at
temptations, but firmly combat and overcome them by the help
of divine grace.
Prayer.
Grant me, O God, Thy grace, that I may in these evil days
keep steadily to Thy holy doctrine, and never be seduced from
obeying it, either by the allurements of the world, or the re
proaches of the wicked. Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke viii. 4-15.
At that time : When a very great multitude was gathered
together and hastened out of the cities unto Him, He spoke by
a similitude : The sower went out to sow his seed : and as he
sowed, some fell by the wayside and was trodden down, and
the fowls of the air devoured it. And other some fell upon a
rock : and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because
it had no moisture. And other some fell among thorns, and
the thorns growing up with it, choked it. And other some fell
upon good ground : and being sprang up, yielded fruit a hun
dredfold. Saying these things, He cried out: He that hath
ears to hear, let him hear. And His disciples asked Him what
this parable might be. To whom He said : To you it is given
to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in
parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not
understand. Now the parable is this : The seed is the word of
God. And they by the wayside, are they that hear ; then the
devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest be-
82 3EXAGESIMA SUNDAY.
lieving they should be saved. Now they upon the rock, are
they who when they hear, receive the word with joy : and these
have no roots : for they believe for awhile, and in time of temp
tation, they fall away. And that which fell among thorns, are
they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the
cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.
But that on the good ground : are they who in a good and a
very good heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth
fruit in patience.
Why is the word of God here compared to seed?
Because as good fruits spring from good seed, so do good
works from the word of God ; and as it is impossible for any
soil not sown to produce good fruits, so neither can men pro
duce the fruits of the Spirit without the seed of the divine
Word.
Why did Our Saviour cry out, c ' He that hath ears to hear, let
him hear"?
To declare the necessity of heeding the word of God, since
without the instruction in our holy religion which we derive
from that word we cannot know what we must do to pleasr
God, and save our souls.
How, then, does it happen that, notwithstanding the excel
lence of the divine word, there are so many bad Christians?
The fault is with men, who, though they hear the word of
God, hear, read, and meditate superficially. The divine seed
finds no moisture or root in their hearts ; they are overgrown
with the piercing thorns of cares, riches, and sensual lusts, so
that the seed of the divine word is choked up, and can neither
grow nor bear fruit.
What is the effect of the word of God when heeded?
To wash away sin, implant virtue, and create the world
anew. Jeremias says: " Are not My words as a fire" (Jer.
xxiii. 29) which bursts out from within, consuming the vapors
of sin, drying up the marshes of vice, and killing the deep roots
of bad habits? Again, it is " a hammer," breaking in pieces the
rocks of hardened hearts. St. Paul says: "It is living and
effectual, and more piercing than any two-edged sword : reach
ing into the division of the soul and spirit, of the joints also and
the marrow" (Heb. iv. 12) — that is, cutting away from the
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 83
spirit sensual lusts. St. James calls it a mirror, in which a man
beholding himself and his sins becomes ashamed, and tries to
get free from them (James i. 23). It is, finally, the good seed,
which, falling upon good ground, yields fruit a hundredfold.
What must we do before a sermon?
St. Chrysostom asks, " Who pours a precious liquid into an
unclean vessel, before he has washed it ? " We should, there
fore, cleanse our hearts before a sermon by contrition, " for
wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul ' ' (Wis. i. 4). As
the ground to be sown must first be prepared, so must our hearts
be cleansed, and made ready by a holy desire of learning what
is good.
What must we do during a sermon?
We must listen attentively and respectfully, for it is God
Who speaks to us through the preacher : ' ' He that heareth you,
heareth Me " (Luke x. 16). If an ambassador reading the let
ters of his king is listened to with great attention, quiet, and
respect, says St. Chrysostom, how much greater veneration
should we not pay to the minister of God announcing His holy
will? Be careful, therefore, not to show contempt for the
preacher, for that will reach back to God, Who has said, "He
that despiseth you, despiseth Me " (Luke x. 16). Be careful not
to apply what is said in the sermon to others, but rather i ' take
heed to thyself" (i. Tim. iv. 16). If you are free from those
sins which the sermon points at, thank God, arid pray that you
may not fall into them.
What must we do after a sermon ?
We must endeavor to practise what we have heard ; for God
justifies, not the hearers of the law, but only the doers (Rom.
ii. 13) of it. In order to practise what we hear in the sermon it
is necessary, in the first place, to keep it in our minds, to ponder
it carefully and remember it. Christ, therefore, blesses those
who hear the word of God and keep it (Luke xi. 28). The
seed cannot bring forth fruit if not well covered with good
ground, warmed by the sun, moistened by the rain and dew,
and cared for in other ways. Finally, pray often to God, that
He may keep alive in you the divine truths which you have
heard.
84 QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
Prayer.
O my God, I am covered with shame, because the seed of
Thy divine word, which Thou hast so abundantly sown in my
heart, has brought forth so little fruit. Have mercy, O Lord,
and change my heart, that it may become good ground, in
which Thy word may take root, thrive, grow, and finally bring
forth the fruit of salvation, which Thou requirest of me. Amen.
ON this Sunday the Church, in the Introit, calls upon God
for help, with a sorrowful but confident heart. ' ' Be Thou
unto me a protector and place of refuge ; save me, for Thou art
my strength and refuge, and for Thy name's sake Thou wilt be
my leader, and wilt nourish me. In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped ;
let me never be confounded ; deliver me in Thy justice, and set
me free" (Ps. xxx. 3, 4, 2). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and,
absolving us from the bonds of sin, preserve us from all adver
sity. Through Our Lord, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. COT. xiii. 1-13.
Brethren: If I speak with the tongues of men, and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or
a tinkling cymbal ; and if I should have prophecy, and should
know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed
the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity is patient, is
kind : charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed
up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to
anger, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth
with the truth : beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth
all things, endureth all things. Charity never falleth away :
whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or
knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that
QU1NQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 85
which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I
spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.
But when I became a man I put away the things of a child.
We see now through a glass in a dark manner : but then face to
face. Now I know in part : but then I shall know even as I
am known. And now there remain, faith, hope, charity :
these three, but the greatest of these is charity.
Explanation.
St. Paul here teaches the Romans, and us in them, the neces
sity, the qualities, and the advantages of charity :
The necessity — because all natural and supernatural gifts —
all good works, virtues, and sacrifices — even martyrdom itself
— cannot save us if we have no charity. By charity only are
we and our works pleasing to God.
The qualities of charity — which are good-will without envy,
suspicion, perversity, or malice; pure intention without self-
love, ambition, immodesty, or injustice; untiring patience
without hastiness ; and, finally, humble submission to God, Who
is all to him that possesses charity.
The advantages of charity — in that it gives to good works
their value, and that it never fails ; for while all things else
cease — while faith passes into seeing, hope into possession,
knowledge in part into knowledge of the whole — charity is ever
lasting, and therefore the greatest of the three. ''Faith," says
St. Augustine, " lays the foundation of the house of God; hope
builds up the walls; charity covers and completes it."
Aspiration.
O God of love, pour into my heart the spirit of charity, that,
according to the spirit of St. Paul, I may always endeavor to be
in the state of grace, that so all my works may be pleasing to
Thee, and of merit to me. Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke xviii. 31-43.
At that time : Jesus took unto Him the twelve, and said to
them : Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be
accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning
the Son of man ; for He shall be delivered to the gentiles, and
shall be mocked, and scourged, and spit upon : and after they
86 QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
have scourged Him they will put Him to death, and the third
day He shall rise again. And they understood none of these
things, and this word was hid from them, and they understood
not the things that were said. Now it came to pass when He
drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way
side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by,
he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of
Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying : Jesus,
Son of David, have mercy on me. And they that went before,
rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried out
much more : Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus
standing commanded him to be brought unto Him. And when
he was come near, He asked him, saying : What wilt thou that
I do to thee? But he said : Lord, that I may see. And Jesus
said to him : Receive thy sight : thy faith hath made thee whole.
And immediately he saw, and followed Him, glorifying God.
And all the people when they saw it gave praise to God.
Why did Our Saviour so often predict His sufferings to His
apostles?
1. To show that He already knew of them, thereby indi
cating His omniscience ; and that, 2. He desired to suffer. 3.
In order that His disciples should not be scandalized at His hu
miliation, nor think evil of Him as if He had deceived them, but,
by remembering His words, be rather confirmed in their belief
in Him as the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.
Did not the apostles understand anything of what He thus
predicted in regard to His sufferings?
They may have known that He was to suffer, for St. Peter
undertook to dissuade Him from it (Matt. xvi. 22), but they
could not reconcile these predictions with their expectation of a
future glorious kingdom. Nor would we be able to cast off our
prejudices, and understand the truths of the faith, however
plainly taught, were we not enlightened by the Holy Ghost.
What should we learn from this history of the blind man?
1. The inexpressible misfortune of blindness of the heart — a
state in which we know not our God, our Redeemer and Sanc-
tifier, and see neither the way of divine life, nor the hindrances
to our salvation, but grope about in the darkness of ignorance
and sin.
ASH WEDNESDAY. 87
2. Where to find One Who will save us from this awful con
dition, in Jesus Christ healing and enlightening us through and
in His Church.
3. The holy zeal and perseverance with which we should
seek and call upon Him for deliverance, disregarding alike the
bad examples, persecutions, and mockery of the world.
4. How fervently we should thank God, and how faithfully
we should follow Him, after He has opened the eyes of our soul
and freed us, by His grace, from the spiritual blindness of sin.
Hsb
is this day so called?
Because on this day the Catholic Church blesses ashes
and puts them on the foreheads of the faithful, saying, < < Ee-
meinber, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou
return" (Gen. iii. 19).
Why are the ashes blessed?
1. That all who receive them with a contrite heart may be
preserved in soul and body. 2. That God may give them con
trition, and pardon their sins. 3. That He may grant them all
they humbly ask for, particularly the grace to do penance, and
the reward promised to the truly penitent.
Why are the faithful sprinkled with ashes?
The sprinkling with ashes was always a public sign of pen
ance; as such God enjoined it upon the Israelites (Jer. xxv.
34). David sprinkled ashes on his bread (Ps. ci. 10). The
Ninivites (Jonas iii. 6), Judith (Jud. ix. 1), Mardochai (Esther
iv. 1), Job (xlii. 6), and others, did penance in sack-cloth and
ashes.
To show the spirit of penance and to move God to mercy,
the Church, at the Introit of the Mass, uses the following words :
"Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of the
things which Thou hast made, and winkest at the sins of men
for the sake of repentance, and sparing them, for Thou art
the Lord our God " (Wis. xi. 24, 25). " Have mercy on me,
O God, for my soul trusteth in Thee." Glory be to the
Father, etc.
88 ASH WEDNESDAY.
Prayer.
Grant to Thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the ven,
erable solemnities of fasting with becoming piety, and perform
them with undisturbed devotion, through Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Joel ii. 12-19.
Therefore saith the Lord : Be converted to Me with all your
heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend
your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your
God : for He is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy,
and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will
return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice
and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion,
sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather together the
people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather to
gether the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts : let the
bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her
bride-chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests,
the Lord's ministers, shall weep, and shall say : Spare, O Lord,
spare Thy people ; and give not Thy inheritance to reproach,
that the heathens should rule over them ; why should they say
among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been
zealous for His land, and hath spared His people : and the Lord
answered and said to His people : Behold I will send you corn,
and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them : and I will
no more make you a reproach among the nations, saith the Lord
Almighty.
Explanation.
The prophet, in these words, calls upon the Israelites to be
converted, reminding them of the great mercy of God, and ex
horting them to join true repentance for their sins with their
fasting and alms. They should all, without exception, do pen
ance and implore the mercy of God, Who would then forgive
them, deliver them from their enemies, and bring peace and
happiness upon them.
GOSPEL. Matt. vi. 16-21.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: When you fast,
be not as the hypocrites, sad : for they disfigure their faces that
ASH WEDNESDAY. 89
they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they
have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint
thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to
fast, but to thy Father Who is in secret : and thy Father, Who
seeth in secret, will repay thee. Lay not up to yourselves
treasures on earth : where the rust and moth consume, and where
thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves
treasures in heaven : where neither rust nor moth doth consume,
and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where
thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.
INSTRUCTION ON LENT.
What is the origin of fasting?
Under the Old Law the Jews fasted by the command of God ;
thus Moses fasted forty days and forty nights, on Mount Sinai,
when God gave him the Ten Commandments ; Elias, in like man
ner, fasted in the desert. Jesus also fasted, and commanded
His apostles to fast also. The Catholic Church, says St. Leo,
from the time of the apostles, has enjoined fasting upon all the
faithful.
Why has the Church instituted the fast before Easter?
1. To imitate Jesus Christ, Who fasted forty days. 2. To
participate in His merits and passion ; for as Christ could only be
glorified through His sufferings, so in order to belong to Him we
must follow Him by a life answering to His. 3. To subject the
flesh to the spirit, and thus, 4, prepare ourselves for Easter and
the worthy reception of the divine Lamb. 5. Finally, to offer to
God some satisfaction for our sins, and, as St. Leo says, to atone
for the sins of a whole year by a short fast of the tenth part of
a year.
Was the fast of Lent kept in early times as it is now?
Yes, only more rigorously; for: 1. The Christians of the
early ages abstained not only from flesh-meat, but from those
things which are produced from flesh, such as butter, eggs,
cheese, and also from wine and fish. 2. They fasted during the
whole day, and ate only after vespers, that is, at night.
How shall we keep the holy season of Lent with advantage?
We should endeavor not only to deny ''ourselves food and
90 THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY.
drink, but, still more, all sinful gratifications. And as the body
is weakened by fasting, the soul, on the other hand, should be
strengthened by repeated prayers, by frequent reception of the
holy sacraments, attending Mass, spiritual reading, and good
works, particularly those of charity. In such manner we shall
be able, according to the intention of the Church, to supply by
our fasting what we have omitted during the year, especially if
we fast willingly, and with a good intention.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, I offer up to Thee my fasting and self-denial,
to be united to Thy fasting and sufferings, for Thy glory, in
gratitude for so many benefits received from Thee, in satisfac
tion for my sins and those of others, and to obtain Thy holy
grace that I may overcome my sins and acquire the virtues which
I need. Look upon me, O Jesus, in mercy. Amen.
after H0b
EPISTLE. Isaias xxxviii. 1-6
IN those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and the prophet
Isaias, the son of Amos, came unto him, and said to him :
Thus saith the Lord : Take order with thy house, for thou shalt
die and not live. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall,
and prayed to the Lord, and said : I beseech Thee, O Lord,
remember how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a
perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.
And Ezechias wept with great weeping. And the word of the
Lord came to Isaias, saying : Go and say to Ezechias : Thus saith
the Lord the God of David thy father : I have heard thy prayer,
and I have seen thy tears : behold I will add to thy days fifteen
years : and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand oi
the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it, saith the Lord
Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. viii. 5-13.
At that time : When Jesus had entered into Capharnaum,
there came to Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying:
Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is griev
ously tormented. And Jesus saith to him : I will come and
heal him. And the centurion, making answer, said : Lord, J
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY. 91
am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but
only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also
am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers ; and I
say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he
cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it. And
Jesus, hearing this, marvelled, and said to them that followed
Him : Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in
Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the East
and the West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven : but the children of the king
dom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness : there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion,
Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the
servant was healed at the same hour.
Prayer.
O God, Who by sin art offended, and by penance pacified,
mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people, making supplica
tions to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger, which
we deserve for our sins. Through Our Lord, etc.
after Bsb
EPISTLE. Isaias Iviii. 1-9.
rpnus saith the Lord God : Cry, cease not, lift up thy voice
-*- like a trumpet, and show My people their wicked doings,
and the house of Jacob their sins. For they seek Me from day
to day, and desire to know My ways, as a nation that hath done
justice, and hath not forsaken the judgment of their God : they
ask of Me the judgments of justice : they are willing to approach
to God. Why have we fasted, and Thou hast not regarded :
why have we humbled our souls, and Thou hast not taken notice?
Behold in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you
exact of all your debtors. Behold you fast for debates and strife,
and strike with the fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done
until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high. Is this
such a fast as I have chosen : for a man to afflict his soul for a
day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread
sack-cloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day accept
able to the Lord? Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen?
loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let
92 SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY.
them that are broken go free, and break asunder every buruen.
Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the har-
borless into thy house : when thou shalt see one naked, cover
him, and despise not thy own flesh. Then shall thy light break
forth as the morning, and thy health shall speedily arise, and thy
justice shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord shall
gather thee up. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear :
thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. Because I thy
Lord God am merciful.
GOSPEL. Matt. v. 43, vi. 1-4.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : You have heard
that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate
thy enemy : but I say to you, Love your enemies : do good to
them that hate you : and pray for them that persecute and
calumniate you : that you may be the children of your Father
"Who is in heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good
and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you
love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not
even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only,
what do you more? do not also the heathens this? Be you
therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Take
heed, that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by
them : otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father
Who is in heaven. Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed,
sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by
men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doth. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy
Father "Who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
Saturday after Hsb
EPISTLE. Isaias Iviii. 9-14.
THUS saith the Lord God : If thou wilt take away the chain
out of the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger,
and to speak that which is good for nothing. When thou shalt
pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul,
then shall thy light rise up in darkness, and thy darkness shall
be as the noonday. And the Lord will give thee rest oontinu-
SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY. 93
ally, and will fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones,
and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a fountain of
water whose waters shall not fail. And the places that have
been desolate for ages shall be built in thee : thou shalt raise up
the foundations of generation and generation : and thou shalt be
called the repairer of the fences, turning the paths into rest.
If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy
own will in My holy day, and call the Sabbath delightful, and
the holy of the Lord glorious, and glorify Him, while thou dost
not thy own ways, and thy own will is not found, to speak a
word : then shalt thou be delighted in the Lord, and I will lift
thee up above the high places of the earth, and will feed thee
with the inheritance of Jacob thy father. For the mouth of the
Lord hath spoken it.
GOSPEL. Mark vi. 47-56.
At that time : When it was late, the ship was in the midst
of the sea, and Jesus alone on the land. And seeing them
laboring in rowing (for the wind was against them), and about
the fourth watch of the night He cometh to them walking upon
the sea, and He would have passed by them. But they seeing
Him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and
they cried out. For they all saw Him, and were troubled.
And immediately He spoke with them, and said to them:
Have a good heart, it is I, fear ye not. And He went up
to them into the ship, and the wind ceased : and they were
far more astonished within themselves : for they understood not
concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded. And when
they had passed over, they came into the land of Genesareth,
and set to the shore. And when they were gone out of the
ship, immediately they knew Him : and running through that
whole country, they began to carry about in beds those that
were sick, where they heard He was. And whithersoever He
entered, into towns or into villages or cities, they laid the sick in
the streets, and besought Him that they might touch but the hem
of His garment : and as many as touched Him were made whole.
Prayer.
May Thy faithful, O Lord, be confirmed by Thy gifts, that,
receiving them, they may seek them, and seeking may receive
them forever. Through Christ, etc.
94 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED "INVOCABIT/
fftrst Sunfcas of OLent, Gallefc
THIS Sunday is called Invocabit from the first word of the
Introit. All the Sundays of Lent and those from Easter to
Pentecost take their names from the Introits of the Mass. In
the Introit of this day we are told : " He shall cry to Me, and
I will hear him ; I will deliver him and glorify him ; I will
fill him with length of days. He that dwelleth in the aid of the
Most High shall abide under the protection of the God of
heaven" (Ps. xc. 15, 16, 1). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer of the Church.
O God, Who dost purify Thy Church by the yearly observ
ance of Lent, grant to Thy servants that what they endeavor to
obtain of Thee by abstinence they may secure by good works.
Through Christ, etc.
EPISTLE, u. Cor. vi. 1-10.
Brethren: We do exhort you, that you receive not the
grace of God in vain : for He saith : In an accepted time have
I heard thee : and in the day of salvation have I helped thee.
Behold now is the acceptable time : behold now is the day of
salvation ; giving no offence to any man, that our ministry be
not blamed : but in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the
ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessi
ties, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labors, in
watchings, in fastings, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffer
ing, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,
in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of
justice on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dis
honor, by evil report and good report : as deceivers, and yet
true : as unknown, and yet known : as dying, and behold we
live: as chastised, and not killed: as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing,
and possessing all things.
By this epistle the Church admonishes us to profit by Lent
as a season of grace, to spend it in earnestly combating sin and
in the diligent performance of good works.
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED f% INVOCABIT. " 95
GOSPEL. Matt. iv. 1-11.
At that time : Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to
be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days
and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter
coming, said to Him : If Thou be the Son of God, command
that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said : It
is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word
that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took
Him up into the holy city, and set Him upon a pinnacle of the
temple, and said to Him : If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thy
self down ; for it is written : that He hath given His angels
charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up,
lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to
him : It is written again : Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy
God. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain :
and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory
of them, and said to Him : All these will I give Thee, if falling
down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him : Begone,
Satan : for it is written : The Lord thy God shalt thou adore :
96 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED " INVOCABIT."
and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him : and
behold angels came and ministered to Him.
Our Saviour was led by the Holy Ghost into the desert there
to prepare by fasting forty days and nights for His holy minis
try. Here the tempter approaches and seeks to betray Him.
After He had overcome the Evil" One angels came and min
istered to Him : by which we learn that they who overcome
temptations enjoy the consolation and assistance of the angels.
This should encourage us to combat joyfully to the end.
What is temptation?
Temptation is an inducement to transgress the command
ments of God. Temptation comes from our own concupiscence
(James i. 14) ; " for the flesh lusteth against the spirit " (Gal. v.
17.)
How does the devil tempt us?
He moves the natural concupiscence to such sins as he sees
men particularly inclined to, and then deceives and confuses the
man's mind, that he may not see clearly either the temporal
loss, or the dishonor and danger of sin. He can, however, do
nothing but what God permits. St. Augustine therefore com
pares him to a chained dog that can hurt only those who put
themselves within his reach.
Does God also tempt us?
St. James says (i. 13), u Let no man, when he is tempted,
say that he is tempted by God ; for God is not a tempter of
evils, and He tempteth no man." But He allows us to be
tempted, sending us manifold trials.
Does God permit us to be tempted beyond our strength?
No ; for He combats with us, and gives uo always as much
strength as is required to conquer temptations, and even to gain
advantage from them (i. Cor. x. 13).
When do we consent to temptation?
When we decide of our own free will to do the evil pro
posed ; as long as we resist, however little, we do not consent.
What are the best means to overcome temptation?
1. Humility and prayer. 2. The consideration of the suffer
ing which follows sin, and of tlie happiness which awaits those
MONDAY IK THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT. 97
who resist temptation. 3. Invoking tlie aid of the Blessed Vir
gin, our guardian angel, and all the saints. 4. Praying de
voutly, ' ' Lead us not into temptation, ' ' and calling on the holy
name of Jesus.
jflDonfcas fn tbe fffrst Meefe ot Xent,
EPISTLE. Ezech. xxxiv. 11-16.
THUS saith the Lord God : Behold I Myself will seek My sheep,
and will visit them. As the shepherd visiteth his flock
in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were
scattered, so will I visit My sheep, and will deliver them out of
all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and
dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and
will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to
their own land : and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel,
by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I will feed
them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in
the high mountains of Israel : there shall they rest on the green
grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel.
I will feed My sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith
the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost : and that which
was driven away I will bring again : and I will bind up that
which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak,
and that which was fat and strong I will preserve : and I will
feed them in judgment, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 31-46.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : When the Son of
man shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him,
then shall He sit upon the seat of His majesty. And all nations
shall be gathered together before Him, and He shall separate
them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep
from the goats : and He shall set the sheep on His right hand,
but the goats on His left. Then shall the King say to them that
shall be on His right hand: Come, ye blessed of My Father,
possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. For I v/as hungry, and you gave Me to eat : I
was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink : I was a stranger, and
you took Me in : naked, and you covered Me : sick, and you
98 TUESDAY IK THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT.
visited Me : I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then shall
the just answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee
hungry, and fed Thee; thirsty, and gave Thee drink? and when
did we see Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and
covered Thee? or when did we see Thee sick or in prison, and
came to Thee? And the King answering, shall say to them :
Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these My
least brethren, you did it to Me. Then He shall say to them
also that shall be on His left hand : Depart from Me, yon
cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil
and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to
eat: I was thirsty, and you gave Me not to drink: I was a
stranger, and you took Me not in : naked, and you covered Me
not : sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me. Then they
also shall answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee
hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister to Thee? Then He shall answer them,
saying : Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of
these least, neither did you do it to Me. And these shall go
into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting.
Prayer.
Convert us, O God, our salvation ; and, that the fast of Lent
may benefit us, instruct our minds with heavenly discipline.
Through Christ, etc.
Uuesfcas in tbe fftrst Weefe of SLent.
EPISTLE. Isaias Iv. 6-11.
IN those days Isaias the prophet spoke, saying : Seek ye the
Lord while He may be found : call upon Him while He is
near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his
thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and He will have
mercy on him, and to our God : for He is bountiful to forgive.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways My
ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are exalted above the
earth, so are My ways exalted above your ways, and My thoughts
above your thoughts. And as the rain and the snow come down
from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth,
and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower,
TUESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT. 99
and bread to the eater : so shall My word be, which shall go
forth from My mouth : it shall not return to Me void, but it
shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for
which I sent it, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxi. 10-17.
At that time : When Jesus was come into Jerusalem, the whole
city was moved, saying: Who is this? And the people said:
This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus
went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold
and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the
money-changers, and the chairs of them that sold doves : and
He saith to them : It is written, My house shall be called the
house of prayer : but you have made it a den of thieves. And
there came to Him the blind, and the lame in the temple ; and
He healed them. And the chief priests and scribes seeing the
wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the
temple, and saying : Hosanna to the son of David ; were moved
with indignation, and said to Him: Hearest Thou what these
100 WEDNESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT.
say? And Jesus said to them: Yea, have you never read:
Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings Thou hast per
fected praise? And leaving them, He went out of the city
into Bethania, and remained there.
Prayer.
Look down upon Thy family, O Lord, and grant that our
minds, which are afflicted by the mortifications of the flesh, may
shine in Thy light with the desire of Thee. Through Christ, etc.
in tbe ffirst Weefc of 3Lent— Ember
EPISTLE, m. Kings xix. 3-8.
IN those days came Elias to Bersabee of Juda, and left his
servant there, and he went forward one day's journey into
the desert. And when lie was there, and sat under a juniper-
tree, he requested for his soul that he might die, and said : It is
enough for me, Lord, take away my soul : for I am no better
than my fathers. And he cast himself down, and slept in the
shadow of the juniper-tree: and behold an angel of the Lord
touched him, and said to him: Arise and eat. He looked, and
behold there was at his head a hearth-cake, and a vessel of
water : and he ate and drank, and he fell asleep again. And
the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched
him, and said to him : Arise, eat : for thou hast yet a great way
to go. And he arose, and ate, and drank, and walked in the
strength of that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount
of God, Horeb.
GOSPEL. Matt. xii. 38-50.
At that time, some of the scribes and Pharisees answered
Jesus, saying : Master, we would see a sign from Thee. Who
answering said to them: An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh a sign : and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of
Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three
days and three nights : so shall the Son of man be in the heart of
the earth three days and three nights. The men of Ninive shall
rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it : be
cause they did penance at the preaching of Jonas. And behold
THURSDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT. 101
a greater than Jonas here. The queen of the south shall rise in
judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it : because she
came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and behold a greater than Solomon here. And when an unclean
spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places seek
ing rest, and findeth none. Then he saith : I will return into
my house from whence I came out. And coming he fhideth it
empty, swept, and garnished. Then he goeth, and taketh with
him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they
enter in and dwell there : and the last state of that man is made
worse than the first. So shall it be also to this wicked genera
tion. As He was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold His
Mother and His brethren stood without, seeking to speak to Him.
And one said unto Him : Behold Thy Mother and Thy brethren
stand without, seeking Thee. But He answering him that told
Him, said: Who is My Mother, and who are My brethren?
And stretching forth His hand towards His disciples, He said :
Behold My Mother and My brethren. For whosoever shall do
the will of II / ^ther, that is in heaven, he is My brother, and
sister, and mou-oL.
Prayer.
Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and
against all our adversaries extend the right hand of Thy majesty.
Through Christ, etc. Amen.
ZTburs&as in tbe ffirst Weefe of Xent
EPISTLE. Ezech, xviii. 1-9.
IN those days : The word of the Lord came to me, saying : What
is the meaning, that you use among you this parable as a
proverb in the land of Israel, saying : The fathers have eaten
sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge? As
I live, saith the Lord God, this parable shall be 110 more to you
a proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are Mine : as the soul of
the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine : the soul that sin-
neth, the same shall die. And if a man be just, and do judg
ment and justice, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor
lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel : and hath
not defiled his neighbor's wife, nor come near to a menstruous
woman : and hath not wronged any man : but hath restored the
102 FRIDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT.
pledge to the debtor, hath taken nothing away by violence : hath
given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with
a garment : hath not lent upon usury, nor taken any increase :
hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true
judgment between man and man : hath walked in My command
ments, and kept My judgments, to do according to truth : he is
just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xv. 21-28.
At that time : Jesus went from thence, and retired into the
coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who
came out of those coasts, crying out, said to Him : Have mercy
on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David : my daughter is grievously
troubled by a devil. Who answered her not a word. And His
disciples came and besought Him, saying : Send her away, for
she crieth after us. And He answering, said : I was not sent
but to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel. But she
came and adored Him, saying : Lord, help me. Who answer
ing, said : It is not good to take the bread of the children, and
to cast it to the dogs. But she said : Yea, Lord, for the whelps
also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.
Then Jesus answering, said to her : O woman, great is thy
faith : be it done to thee as thou wilt : and her daughter was
cured from that hour.
Prayer.
Look, O Lord, upon the devotion of Thy people, that we,
who are afflicted in body by abstinence, may be refreshed in
mind by the fruit of good works. Through Our Lord, etc.
B
in tbe ffirst OTeefe of Slent— Ember
.Pm^/*.
E merciful, O Lord, to Thy people, and as Thou makest them
devout to Thee, mercifully refresh them with kind assist
ance. Through Our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Ezech. xviii. 20-28.
Thus saith the Lord God : The soul that sinneth, the same
shall die : the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and
FRIDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT. 103
the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son : the justice of
the just shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked
shall be upon him. But if the wicked do penance for all his
sins, which he hath committed, and keep all My command
ments, and do judgment and justice, living he shall live, and
shall not die. I will not remember all his iniquities that he
hath done : in his justice which he hath wrought, he shall live.
Is it My will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and
not that he should be converted from his ways, and live? But
if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do iniq
uity according to all the abominations which the wicked man
useth to work, shall he live? all his justices which he had done,
shall not be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he
hath prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in
them he shall die. And you have said : The way of the Lord
is not right. Hear ye, therefore, O house of Israel : Is it My
way that is not right, and are not rather your ways perverse?
For when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and
committeth iniquity, lie shall die therein : in the injustice that
he hath wrought he shall die. And when the wicked turneth
himself away from his wickedness, which he hath wrought, and
doeth judgment and justice : he shall save his soul alive. Be
cause he considereth and turneth away himself from all his in
iquities which he hath wrought, he shall surely live, and not die,
saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. John v. 1-15.
At that time there was a festival-day of the Jews, and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem a pond,
called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having
five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind,
of lame, of withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the
pond: and the water was moved. And he that went down
first into the pond after the motion of the water, was made
whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under. And there was a
certain man there, that had been eight-and-thirty years under
his infirmity. Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that
he had been now a long time, He saith to him : Wilt thou be
made whole ? The infirm man answered Him : Sir, I have no
104 SATURDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT.
man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond.
For whilst I am corning, another goeth down before me.
Jesus saith to him : Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And
immediately the man was made whole : and he took up his bed
and walked. And it was the Sabbath that day. The Jews
therefore said to him that was healed: It is the Sabbath, it
is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. He answered them :
He that made me whole, He said to me : Take up thy bed, and
walk. They asked him therefore: Who is that man who said
to thee : Take up thy bed, and walk? But he who was healed,
knew not who it was. For Jesus went aside from the multitude
standing in the place. Afterwards Jesus findeth him in the
temple, and saith to him : Behold thou art made whole : sin no
more, lest some worse thing happen to thee. The man went
his way, and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had made him
whole.
Saturfcap in tbe jfirst Weefe of SLent— jEmber
EPISTLE, i. Thess. v. 14-23.
BRETHREN : We beseech you, rebuke the unquiet, comfort the
feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all
men. See that none render evil for evil to any man : but ever
follow that which is good towards each other, and towards all
men. Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In all things
give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concern
ing you all. Extinguish not the spirit. Despise not prophe
cies. But prove all things: hold fast that which is good.
From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves. And may the
Q-od of peace Himself sanctify you in all things: that your
whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless
in the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel and Prayer the same as those of to-morrow.
Second Sunfca^ of SLent, Called " IRemmtecere/'
A T the Introit to-day the Church asks of God the grace to fall
-"- no more into sin: "Remember, O God, Thy bowels of
compassion, and Thy mercies that are from the beginning of the
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED "KEMLNTSCERE." 105
world, lest at any time our enemies rule over us; deliver us, O
God, from all our tribulations. To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted
up my soul. In Thee, O God, I put my trust, let me 'not be
ashamed " (Ps. xxiv.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who beholdest us destitute of every virtue, preserve
us both inwardly and outwardly, that we may be defended from
all adversities in body, and purified from all evil thoughts in
mind. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. Tkess. iv. 1-7.
Brethren : We pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that
as you have received of us, how you ought to walk, and to please
God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.
For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord
Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification : that you
should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should
know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor : not
106 SECOND SUNDAY 01 LENT, CALLED " REMINISCERE."
in the passion of lust, like the gentiles that know not God : and
that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business:
because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have
told you before, and have testified : for God hath not called us
unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification, in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Explanation.
St. Paul exhorts all Christians to live chastely and honestly,
and continually to aspire to higher perfection. Such is the will
of God, "Who has called us to holiness, and will punish severely
all impurity and injustice.
Prayer.
Grant, O Lord, that, according to my vocation, I may never
be addicted to earthly and fleshly lusts like the heathen, who
know Thee not, but may live in modesty, chastity, and holiness,
and adorn my name as a Christian with good works. Amen.
GOSPEL. Matt. xvii. 1-9.
At that time : Jesus taketh unto Him Peter and James, and
John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain
apart : and He was transfigured before them. And His face
did shine as the sun : and His garments became white as snow.
And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with
Him. And Peter, answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good
for us to be here : if Thou wilt, let us make here three taber
nacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshaded
them. And lo a voice out of the cloud saying : This is My
beloved Son, in Whom I arn well pleased : hear ye Him. And
the disciples hearing, fell upon their face : and were very much
afraid. And Jesus came and touched them : and said to them :
Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes saw no one,
but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them, saying : Tell the vision to no man, till the
Son of man be risen from the dead.
Why was Jesus transfigured before His disciples on Mount
Thabor?
1. To give them a manifest proof of His divinity. 2. To
prevent all doubt on their part when they should see Him on
MONDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT. 107
Mount Calvary. 3. To encourage all the faithful to patience
under agony and suffering. 4. To show us how our glorified
bodies shall rise from the dead (i. Cor. xv. 52).
Why did Moses and Elias appear with Our Lord?
To testify that Jesus was the Saviour of the world spoken of
by the law and the prophets.
in tbe Seconfc Meefc of Hent
Prayer.
RANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that Thy family,
who, afflicting their flesh, abstain from food, by following
justice may fast from sin. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Daniel ix. 15-19.
In those days Daniel prayed unto the Lord, saying: O
Lord our God, Who hast brought forth Thy people out of the
land of Egypt with a strong hand, and hast made Thee a name
as at this day : we have sinned, we have committed iniquity,
0 Lord, against all Thy justice : let Thy wrath and Thy indig
nation be turned away, I beseech Thee, from Thy city Jerusalem,
and from Thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and
the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and Thy people are a
reproach to all that are round about us. Now, therefore, O
our God, hear the supplication of Thy servant, and his prayers :
and show Thy face upon Thy sanctuary which is desolate, for
Thy own sake. Incline, O my God, Thy ear and hear: open
Thy eyes, and see our desolation, and the city upon which Thy
name is called : for it is not for our justifications that we present
our prayers before Thy face, but for the multitude of Thy ten
der mercies. O Lord, hear : O Lord, be appeased : hearken
and do : delay not for Thy own sake, O my God : because Thy
name is invoked upon Thy city, and upon Thy people.
GOSPEL. John viii. 21-29.
At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews : I go,
and you shall seek Me, and you shall die in your sin. Whither
1 go, you cannot come. The Jews therefore said : Will He kill
Himself, because He said: Whither I go, you cannot come?
And He said to them : You are from beneath, I am from above.
108 TUESDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I
said to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe
not that I am He, you shall die in your sin. They said therefore
to Him: "Who art Thou? Jesus said to them: The beginning,
Who also speak unto you. Many things I have to speak and to
judge of you. But He that sent Me is true : and the things I
have heard of Him, these same I speak in the world. And they
understood not that He called God His Father. Jesus therefore
said to them : When you shall have lifted up the Son of man,
then shall you know that I am He, and that I do nothing of
Myself, but as the Father hath taught Me, these things I speak :
and He that sent Me is with Me, and He hath not left Me alone :
for I do always the things that please Him.
B
in tbe Seconfc TKHeefc of Xent
Prayer.
E propitious, O Lord, to our prayers, and heal the desires of
our souls, that, having received forgiveness, we may ever
rejoice in Thy benediction. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, in. Kings xvii. 8-16.
In those days: The word of the Lord came to Elias, the
Thesbite, saying : Arise, and go to Sarephta a city of the £ ido-
nians, and dwell there: for I have commanded a widow woman
there to feed thee. He arose and went to Sarephta. And when
he was come to the gate of the city, he saw the widow woman
gathering sticks, and he called her, and said to her : Give me a
little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And when she was
going to fetch it, he called after her, saying : Bring me also, I
beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand. And she answered :
As the Lord thy God liveth, I have no bread, but only a hand
ful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruse : behold I am gather
ing two sticks that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son,
that we may eat it and die. And Elias said to her : Fear not,
but go and do as thou hast said : but first make for me of the
same meal a little hearth-cake, and bring it to me : and after
make for thyself and thy son. For thus saith the Lord the God
of Israel : The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil
be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain
WEDNESDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT. 109
upon the face of the earth. She went and did according to the
word of Elias : and he ate, and she and her house : and from that
day the pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not
diminished, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke
in the hand of Elias.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxiii. 1-12.
At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His dis
ciples, saying : The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the
chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to
you, observe and do : but according to their works do ye not : for
they say, and do not. For they bind heavy and insupportable
burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders: but with a finger of
their own they will not move them. And all their works they
do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries
broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places
at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, and salutations
in the market-place, and to be called by men, Kabbi. But be
not you called Eabbi. For One is your master, and all you are
brethren. And call none your father upon earth : for One is
your father Who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters :
for One is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among
you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself
shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted.
Explanation.
The law of God imposes certain obligations on us. The
priest and the teacher teach God's Gospel in His name, and we
shall be judged if we refuse to believe God's truth and in His
Church because our teachers may not practise what they preach.
in tbe Second Weefe of OLent
Prayer.
regard Thy people, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
and grant that we, whom Thou cornmandest to abstain
from carnal food, may also cease from hurtful vices. Through
Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Esther xiii. 9-17.
In those days Mardochai prayed to the Lord, saying: O
i, Lord, Almighty King, for all things are in Thy power,
110 WEDNESDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
and there is none that can resist Thy will, if Thou determine to
save Israel. Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all things that
are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord of all, and there
is none that can resist Thy majesty. Thou knowest all things,
and Thou knowest that it was not out of pride and contempt, or
any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Arnan.
(For I wrould willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel
have kissed even the steps of his feet.) But I feared lest I
should transfer the honor of my God to a man, and lest I should
adore any one except my God. And now, O Lord, O King, O
God of Abraham, have mercy on Thy people, because our ene
mies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish Thy inheritance.
Despise not Thy portion, which Thou hast redeemed for Thy
self out of Egypt. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to
Thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that
we may live and praise Thy name, O Lord, and shut not the
mouths of them that sing to Thee, O Lord our God.
GOSPEL. Matt. xx. 17-28.
At that time : Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve
disciples apart, and said to them : Behold we go up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the
scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death. And they shall
deliver Him to the gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and
crucified, and the third day He shall rise again. Then came to
Him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring
and asking something of Him. Who said to her : What wilt
thou ? She saith to Him : Say that these my two sons may sit,
the one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left, in Thy
kingdom. But Jesus answering, said : You know not what you
ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say
to Him : We can. He saith to them : My chalice indeed you
shall drink : but to sit on My right or left hand, is not Mine to
give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by My Father.
And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the
two brethren. But Jesus called them to Him, and said : You
know that the princes of the gentiles lord it over them : and
they that are the greater exercise power upon them. It shall
not be so among you, but whosoever will be the greater among
you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among
THURSDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT. Ill
you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come
to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a
redemption for many.
tn tbe Second TKHeefe of Xent
Prayer.
a KANT us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the help of Thy grace,
that we, dutifully engaged in fasting and prayer, may be
freed from all enemies of body and soul. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jer. xvii. 5-10.
Thus saith the Lord God : Cursed be the man that trusteth
in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth
from the Lord. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and
he shall not see when good shall come : but he shall dwell in
dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited. Blessed
be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his
confidence. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the
waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it
shall not fear when the heat corneth. And the leaf thereof
shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solici
tous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit. The
heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can
know it? I am the Lord that search the heart and prove the
reins : Who give to every one according to his way, and accord
ing to the fruit of his devices, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Luke xvi. 19-31.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees : There was a cer
tain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen : and
feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar
named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be
filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and
no one did give him : moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was car-
112 THURSDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
ried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man
also died : and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes
when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Laza
rus in his bosom : and he cried, and said : Father Abraham,
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of
his linger in water, to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in
this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that
thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now lie is comforted, and thou art
tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is
fixed a great chaos : so that they who would pass from hence
to you cannot, nor from thence come hither. And he said:
Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my
father's house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. And
'Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let
them hear them. But he said : No, Father Abraham, but if
one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. And
he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they believe if one rise again from the dead.
FRIDAY
THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
113
fn tbe Second Weefe ot SLent
Prayer.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that, purified by
the holy fast, we may celebrate the coming festival with
pure hearts. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Gen. xxxvii. 6-22.
In those days Joseph said to his brethren : Hear my dream
which I dreamed. I thought we were binding sheaves in the
field : and my sheaf arose as it were and stood, and your
sheaves standing about, bowed down before my sheaf. His
brethren answered: Shalt thou be our king? or shall we be
subject to thy dominion? Therefore this matter of his dreams
and words ministered nourishment to their envy and hatred.
He dreamed also another dream, which he told his brethren,
saying: I saw in a dream, as it were, the sun, and the moon,
and eleven stars worshipping me. And when he had told this
to his father, and brethren, his father rebuked him, and said :
What meaneth this dream that thou hast dreamed? shall I and
114 FRIDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
thy mother, and thy brethren worship thee upon the earth?
His brethren therefore envied him : but his father considered
the thing with himself. And when his brethren abode in
Sichem, feeding their father's flocks, Israel said to him: Thy
brethren feed the sheep in Sichem : come, I will send thee to
them. And when he answered : I am ready ; he said to him :
Go, and see if all things be well with thy brethren, and the
cattle : and bring me word again what is doing. So being sent
from the vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem : and a man found
him there wandering in the field, and asked what he sought.
But he answered : I seek my brethren, tell me where they feed
the flocks. And the man said to him : They are departed from
this place : for I heard them say : Let us go to Dothain. And
Joseph went forward after his brethren, and found them in
Dothain. And when they saw him afar off, before he came
nigh them, they thought to kill him. And said one to another:
Behold the dreamer cometh. Come, let us kill him, and cast
him into some old pit, and we will say : Some evil beast hath
devoured him : and then it shall appear what his dreams avail
him : and Ruben hearing this, endeavored to deliver him out of
their hands, and said : Do not take away his life, nor shed his
blood: but cast him into this pit, that is in the wilderness, and
keep your hands harmless : now he said this, being desirous to
deliver him out of their hands, and to restore him to his father.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxi. 33-46.
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to the multitude of the
Jews and the chief priests : There was a man a householder
who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and
dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husband
men : and went into a strange country. And when the time of
the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen,
that they might receive the fruits thereof. And the husband
men laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another,
and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than
the former : and they did to them in like manner. And last of
all he sent to them his son, saying : They will reverence my
son. But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among them
selves : This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and we shall have
his inheritance. And taking him they cast him forth out of the
SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT. 115
vineyard, and killed him. When, therefore, the lord of the
vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen?
They say to Him : He will bring those evil men to an evil end :
and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, that shall
render him the fruit in due season. Jesus saith to them : Have
you never read in the Scriptures : The stone which the build
ers rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? By
the Lord this hath been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken
from you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits
thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be
broken : but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to
powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard
His parables, they knew that He spoke of them. And seeking
to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes: because they
held Him as a prophet.
in tbe Seconb Meefc of Xent
Prayer.
a RANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord, a salutary effect to our
fasts, that the chastisement of the flesh which we have
taken upon us may promote the vigor of the soul. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Gen. xxvii. 6-40.
In those days Eebecca said to her son Jacob : I heard thy
father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying to him : Bring
me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and
bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die. Now, there
fore, my son, follow my counsel : and go thy way to the flock,
bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat
for thy father, such as he gladly eateth : which when thou hast
brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless thee before he die.
And he answered her : Thou knowest that Esau my brother is
a hairy man, and I am smooth. If my father shall feel me,
and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked
him, and I shall bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing.
And his mother said to him : Upon me be this curse, my son :
only hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I
Lave said. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother.
116
SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked. And she
put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at
home with her : and the little skins of the kids she put about
his hands, and covered the bare of his neck. And she gave
him the savory meat, and delivered him bread that she had
baked. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father?
But he answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son? And
Jacob said : I am Esau thy first-born : I have done as thou didst
command me: arise, sit, and eat of my venison, that thy soul
may bless me. And Isaac said to his son: How couldst thou
find it so quickly, my son? He answered: It was the will of
God that what I sought came quickly in my way. And Isaac
said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may
prove whether thou be my son Esau, or not. He came near to
his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said : The voice in
deed is the voice of Jacob : but the hands are the hands of Esau.
And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like
to the elder. Then blessing him, he said : Art thou my son
Esau? He answered: I am. Then he said: Bring me the
SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT. H?
meats of % hunting, my son, that my soul may bless thee.
And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he offered him
wine also, which after he had drunk, he said to him : Come
near me, and give me a kiss, my son. He came near, and
kissed him. And immediately as he smelied the fragrant smell
of his garments, blessing him, he said : Behold the smell of my
son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath
blessed. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat
ness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine. And let peoples
serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy
brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee.
Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee
be filled with blessings. Isaac had scarce ended his words, when
Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came, and brought in
to his father meats made of what he had taken in hunting, say
ing: Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison, that thy
soul may bless me. And Isaac said to him : Why ! who art
thou? He answered : I am thy first-born son Esau. Isaac was
struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly: and wondering
beyond what can be believed, said: Who is he then that even
now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all be
fore thou earnest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be
blessed. Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with
a great cry: and being in a consternation, said: Bless me also,
my father. And he said : Thy brother came deceitfully and
got thy blessing. But he said again : Rightly is his name called
Jacob ; for he hath supplanted me lo this second time : my first
birthright he took away before, and now this second time he
hath stolen away my blessing. And again he said to his father :
Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing? Isaac answered: I
have appointed him thy lord, and have made all his brethren
his servants: I have established him with corn and wine, and
after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son? And Esau
said to him: Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech
thee bless me also. And when he wept with a loud cry, Isaac
being moved, said to him : In the fat of the earth, and in the
dew of heaven from above, shall thy blessing be.
118 SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT.
GOSPEL. Luke xv. 11-32.
In that time Jesus spoke this parable to the scribes,, and
Pharisees: A certain man had two sons; and the younger of
them said to his father : Father, give me the portion of substance
that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.
And not many days after, the younger son gathering all together,
went abroad into a far country, and there wasted his substance,
living riotously. And after he had spent all, there came a
mighty famine in that country, and he began to be in want.
And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country.
And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. And he would
fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat ; and
no man gave unto him. And returning to himself, he said:
How many hired servants in my father's house abound with
bread, and I here perish with hunger? I will arise, and will go
to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against
Heaven, and before thee : I am not now worthy to be called thy
son : make me as one of thy hired servants. And rising up he
came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running
to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. And the son said
to him : Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee,
I am not now worthy to be called thy son. But the father said
to his servants : Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on
him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet : and
bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make
merry : because this my son was dead, and is come to life again :
was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now
his elder son was in the field, and when he came out and drew
nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing : and he called
one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And
he said to him : Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed
the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe. And he was
angry, and would not go in. His father therefore coming out
began to entreat him. And he answering, said to his father :
Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never
transgressed thy commandment, and yet thou hast never given
me a kid to make merry with my friends : but as soon as this
thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots,
thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. But he said to him :
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED " OCULI/
119
Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is thine. But it
was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy
brother was dead, and is come to life again : he was lost, and is
found.
Ubfrfc
®culf."
of %entt
Introit of this day's Mass contains the prayer of a soul
anxious to be freed from the snares of sin : ' ' My eyes are
ever towards the Lord ; for He shall pluck my feet out of the
snare. Look Thou upon me and have mercy upon me, for I am
alone and poor. To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul ;
in Thee, O God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed" (Ps.
xxiv. 15, 16, 1, 2). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, regard the prayers of Thy
humble servants, and stretch forth in our defence the right hand
of Thy majesty. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Epliesians v. 1-9.
Brethren: Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear
children. And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and
120 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED
liath delivered Himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to Grod
for an odor of sweetness. But fornication and all uncleanness,
or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as
becometh saints : or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility,
which is to no purpose : but rather giving of thanks. For know
ye this and understand that no fornicator, nor unclean, nor
covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you
with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger
of God upon the children of unbelief. Be ye not therefore
partakers with them. For you were heretofore darkness, but
now light in the Lord. Walk ye as children of the light : for
the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth.
Explanation.
St. Paul here declares it to be the duty of every Christian,
not only to walk in love, but also to abstain from fornication,
impurity, and equivocal and immodest talk. No one, therefore,
who is addicted to these vices can have any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ.
Aspiration.
O Lord, free my heart from all inordinate desires for tem
poral goods and sensual pleasures. May a childlike fear of Thee
guard my tongue, that I may not speak foolish or sinful words.
GOSPEL. Luke xi. 14-28.
At that time Jesus was casting out a devil, and the same
was dumb; and when He had cast out the devil, the dumb
spoke : and the multitudes wTere in admiration at it : but some
of them said : He casteth out devils, by Beelzebub, the prince
of devils. And others tempting, asked of Him a sign from
heaven. But He seeing their thoughts said to them : Every
kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation, and
house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against
himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say, that
through Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils
by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out?
Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I by the finger of
God cast out devils, doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon
you. When a strong man armed keepeth his court : those
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED " OCULI." 121
things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger than
he come upon him and overcome him : he will take away all his
armor wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils. lie
that is not with Me is against Me : and he that gathereth not
with Me, scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a
man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest : and
not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I
came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and gar
nished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits
more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there.
. And the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.
And it came to pass : as He spoke these things, a certain woman
from the crowd lifting up her voice said to Him : Blessed is the
womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck. But
He said : Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of
God and keep it.
What are we to understand here by the dumb devil?
The evil spirit, who so controls those of whom he has pos
session that they are dumb, and through a false shame keep
away from confession.
By what power did Christ cast out the devil?
By His divine power, which worked so suddenly and per
fectly that the possessed was at once freed and able to speak.
How did Christ show the Jews that He did not cast out
devils by Beelzebub?
1. By the parable in which He explains to them that the
kingdom of Satan cannot stand if one evil spirit is cast out by
another. 2. By pointing to their own children, some of whom
were enabled to cast out devils by the power they had received
from God (Mark ix. 37, 38). 3. By His whole life, and His
works, which were in direct opposition to the devil.
Prayer.
O Jesus, conqueror of the dumb devil, strengthen me, that
if I should have the misfortune to sin against Thy holy com
mandments I may have courage to overcome my false shame,
and confess my sins in sincerity and humility. O my Saviour,
be Thou my leader in the fight, that I may foil those arms of
the devil : my evil inclinations, idleness, bad company, bad books,
122 MONDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
and human respect, and grant that I may never relapse into sin,
but serve Thee with perseverance. Amen.
fn tbe Ubirfc Weefe of %ent.
Prayer.
POUR forth, in Thy mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy
grace into our hearts, that, as we abstain from flesh, we
may also restrain our senses from hurtful excesses.
EPISTLE, iv. Kings v. 1 15.
In those days : Naaman, general of the army of the king of
Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable : for by
him the Lord gave deliverance to Syria : and he was a valiant
man and rich, but a leper. Now there had gone out robbers
from Syria, and had led away captive out of the land of Israel a
little maid, and she waited upon Naamaii's wife. And she said
to her mistress: I wish my master had been with the prophet,
that is in Samaria : he would certainly have healed him of the
leprosy which he hath. Then Naaman went in to his lord, and
told him, saying : Thus and thus said the girl from the land of
Israel. And the king of Syria said to him: Go, and I will
send a letter to the king of Israel. And he departed, and took
with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold,
and ten changes of raiment, and brought the letter to the king
of Israel, in these words: When thou shalt receive this letter,
know that I have sent to thee Naaman my servant, that thou
mayest heal him of his leprosy. And when the king of Israel
had read the letter, he rent his garments, and said : Am I God,
to be able to kill and give life, that this man hath sent to me, to heal
a man of his leprosy? mark, and see how he seeketh occasions
against me. And when Eliseus the man of God had heard this,
to wit, that the king of Israel had rent his garments, he sent
to him, saying: Why hast thou rent thy garments? let him come
to me, and let him know that there is a prophet in Israel. So
Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and stood at the door
of the house of Eliseus: and Eliseus sent a messenger to him
saying : Go, and wash seven times in the Jordan, and thy flesh
shall recover health, and thou shalt be clean. Naaman was
angry and went away, saying: I thought he would have come
out to me, and standing- would have invoked the name of t,l»o
TUESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT. 123
Lord his God, and touched with his hand the place of the leprosy,
and healed me. Are not the Abana and the Pharphar, rivers
of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel, that I may
wash in them, arid be made clean? So as he turned, and was
going away with indignation, his servants came to him, and said
to him : Father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing,
surely thou shouldst have done it : how much rather what he
now hath said to thee: Wash, and thou shalt be clean? Then
he went down, aiid washed in the Jordan seven times : accord
ing to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored,
like the flesh of a little child, and he was made clean. And
returning to the man of God with all his train, he came, and
stood before him, and said : In truth, I know there is no other
God in all the earth, but only in Israel.
GOSPEL. Luke iv. 23-30.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: Doubtless you
will say to Me this similitude : Physician, heal Thyself : as great
things as we have heard done in Capharnaum, do also here in
Thy own country. And He said : Arnen I say to you, that no
prophet is accepted in his own country. In truth I say to you,
there were many widows in the days of Elias in Israel, when
heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there was
a great famine throughout all the earth. And to none of them
was Elias sent, but to Sarepta of Sidon, to a widow woman.
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eliseus the
prophet : and none of them was cleansed but JSTaaman the Syrian.
And all they in the synagogue, hearing these things, were filled
with anger. And they rose up and thrust Him out of the city :
and they brought Him to the brow of the hill, whereon their
city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But
He passing through the midst of them, went His way.
fn tbe trbfrfc Meefc of Xent.
Prayer.
EACIOUSLY hear us, O almighty and merciful God, and
~ favorably grant to us the gifts of wholesome self-denial.
Through Christ our Lord, etc.
124 TUESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
EPISTLE, iv. Kings iv. 1-7.
In those days a certain woman of the wives of the prophets
cried to Eliseus, saying : Thy servant my husband is dead, and
thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared the Lord, and
behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve
him. And Eliseus said to her: What wilt thou have me do
for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house? And she
answered : I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little
oil, to anoint me. And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy
neighbors empty vessels not a few. And go in, and shut thy
door, when thou art within, with thy sons : and pour out thereof
into all those vessels, and when they are full take them away.
So the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her
sons: they brought her the vessels, and she poured in. And
when the vessels were full, she said to her son : Bring me yet a
vessel. And he answered: I have no more. And the oil
stood. And she came and told the man of God. And he said :
G-o, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons
live of the rest.
GOSPEL. Matt, xviii. 15-22.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : If thy brother shall
>ffend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him
alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And
if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that
in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
And if he will not hear them: tell the Church. And if he will
not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and pub
lican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon
-earth, shall be bound also in heaven : and whatsoever you shall
loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Again I say to
you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any
thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by My
Father Who is in heaven. For where there are two or three
gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then came Peter unto Him and said : Lord, how often shall my
brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith to him : I say not to thee, till seven times ; but till
seventy times seven times.
WEDNESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT. 125
Wefcnesfcas In tbe Ubirfr TOeefe ot Xent,
Prayer.
RANT us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that, instructed by
wholesome fasting, and abstaining from dangerous vices,
we may more easily obtain Thy favor. Through Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Exodus xx. 12-24.
Thus saith the Lord God : Honor thy father and thy mother,
that thou mayest be long-lived upon the land which the Lord
thy God will give thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not
commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's house: neither shalt thou desire his wife, nor his ser
vant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that
is his. And all the people saw the voices and the flames, and the
sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking : and being ter
rified and struck with fear, they stood afar off, saying to Moses :
Speak thou to us, and we will hear : let not the Lord speak to
us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people : Fear not : for
God has come to prove you, and that the dread of Him might be
in you, and you should not sin. And the people stood afar off.
But Moses went to the dark cloud wherein God was. And the
Lord said to Moses : Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel :
You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. You
shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to yourselves
gods of gold. You shall make an altar of earth unto Me, and you
shall offer upon it your holocausts and peace-offerings, your sheep
and oxen, in every place where the memory of My name shall be.
GOSPEL. Matt. xv. 1-20.
At that time there came to Jesus from Jerusalem scribes
and Pharisees, saying: Why do Thy disciples transgress the
traditions of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when
they eat bread. But He answering, said to them : Why do you
also transgress the commandment of God for your tradition?
For God said : Honor thy father and mother ; and : He that
shall curse father or mother, let him die the death. But you
say : Whosoever shall say to father or mother, the gift whatso
ever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee; and he shall not
honor his father or his mother: and you have made void the
126 THURSDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
commandment of God for jour tradition. Hypocrites, well
Lath Isaias prophesied of you, saying : This people honor eth Me
with their lips: but their heart is far from Me. And in vain
do they worship Me, teaching doctrines and commandments of
men. And having called together the multitudes unto Him,
He said to them: Hear ye and understand. Not that which
goeth into the mouth defileth a man : but what cometh out of
the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came His disciples, and
said to Him: Dost Thou know that the Pharisees, when they
heard this word, were scandalized? But He answering, said:
Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall
be rooted up. Let them alone : they are blind, and leaders of
the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the
pit. And Peter answering, said to Him: Expound to us this
parable. But He said : Are you also yet without understand
ing? Do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the
mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the privy?
But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from
the heart, and those things defile a man. For from the heart
come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that
defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile
a man.
in tbe ZTbirfc Weefe of Xent.
Prayer.
-jy/TAY heavenly propitiation increase Thy people subject to
Thee, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and make them ever
servants of Thy commandments. Through Christ our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE. Jer. vii. 1-7.
In those days the word of the Lord came to me, saying x
Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord, and proclaim there
this word, and say : Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men
of Juda, that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. Thus
saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel : Make your ways and
your doings good : and I will dwell with you in this place.
Trust not in lying words, saying : The temple of the Lord, the
temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. For if you
will order well your ways, and your doings : if you will execute
FRIDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT. 127
judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you oppress not
the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not inno
cent blood in this place, and walk not after strange gods to your
own hurt, I will dwell with you in this place : in the land which
I gave to your fathers from the beginning and forever, saith the
Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Luke iv. 38-44.
At that time Jesus, rising up out of the synagogue, went
into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken
with a great fever, and they besought Him for her. And stand
ing over her, He commanded the fever, and it left her. And
immediately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun
was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases
brought them to Him. But He laying His hands on every one
of them, healed them. And devils went out from many, crying
out and saying : Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them
He suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ.
And when it was day, going out He went into a desert place,
and the multitudes sought Him, and came unto Him : and they
stayed Him that He should not depart from them. To whom
He said : To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God :
for therefor am I sent. And He was preaching in the syna
gogues of Galilee.
fn tbe ttbfrfc Weefe of Xent
Prayer.
OOK down on our fasts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with mer-
ciful favor, that, as we abstain from food in body, so we
may fast from vice in mind. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE. Numbers xx. 2-13.
In those days, the children of Israel came together against
Moses and Aaron: and making a sedition, they said: Would
God we had perished among our brethren before the Lord.
Why have you brought out the Church of the Lord into the wil
derness, that both we and our cattle should die? Why have
you made us come up out of Egypt, and have brought us into
this wretched place which cannot be sowed, nor bringeth forth
128 FRIDAY IN THE THIKD WEEK OF LENT.
figs, nor vines, nor pomegranates, neither is there any water to
drink ? And Moses and Aaron leaving the multitude, went into
the tabernacle of the covenant, and fell flat upon the ground,
and cried to the Lord, and said : O Lord God, hear the cry of
this people, and open to them Thy treasure, a fountain of living
water, that being satisfied they may cease to murmur. And the
glory of the Lord appeared over them. And the Lord spoke to
Moses, saying: Take the rod, and assemble the people together,
thon and Aaron thy brother, and speak to the rock before them,
and it shall yield waters. And when thou hast brought forth
water out of the rock, all the multitude and their cattle shall
drink. Moses therefore took the rod, which was before the
Lord, as He had commanded him. And having gathered to
gether the multitude before the rock, he said to them : Hear, ye
rebellious and incredulous : Can we bring you forth water out
of this rock? And when Moses had lifted up his hand, and
struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in
great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank. And
the Lord said to Moses and Aaron : Because you have not be-
FRIDAY IK THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT. 129
lieved Me, to sanctify Me before the children of Israel, you shall
not bring these people into the land which I will give them. This
is the water of contradiction, where the children of Israel strove
with words against the Lord, and He was sanctified in them.
GOSPEL. John iv. 5-42.
At that time Jesus came to a city of Samaria which is called
Sichar; near the land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied
with His journey, sat thus on the well. It was about the sixth
hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus
saith to her : Give Me to drink. For His disciples were gone
into the city to buy meats. Then that Samaritan w^oman saith to
Him : How dost Thou, being a Jew, ask of me to drink, who
am a Samaritan woman? For the Jews do not communicate
with the Samaritans. Jesus answered, and said to her : If thou
didst know the gift of God, and Who He is that saith to thee,
Give Me to drink ; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of Him,
and He would have given thee living water. The woman saith
to Him : Sir, Thou hast nothing wherein to draw, and the well is
deep : from whence then hast Thou living water ? Art Thou
greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank
thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered,
and said to her : Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst
again ; but he that shall drink of the water that I will give him
shall not thirst forever: but the water that I will give him shall
become in him a fountain of water springing up into life everlast
ing. The woman saith to Him : Sir, give me this water, that I
may not thirst, nor come hither to draw. Jesus saith to her :
Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered,
and said : I have no husband. Jesus said to her : Thou hast
said well, I have no husband : for thou hast had five husbands :
and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband. This thou
hast said truly. The woman saith to him : Sir, I perceive that
Thou art a prophet. Our fathers adored on this mountain, and
you say that at Jerusalem is the place where men must adore.
Jesus saith to her : Woman, believe Me, that the hour cometh
when you shall neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem adore
the Father. You adore that which you know not: we adore
that which we know; for salvation is of the Jews. But the
130
FRIDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
hour comelh, and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the
Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such
to adore Him. God is a spirit, and they that adore Him must
adore Him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith to Him :
I know that the Messias cometh (Who is called Christ) : there
fore when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith to
her: I am He Who am speaking with thee. And immediately
His disciples came: and they wondered that He talked with the
woman. Yet no man said: What seekest Thou, or why talkest
Thou with her? The woman therefore left her water-pot, and
went her way into the city, and saith to the men there : Come,
and see a man Who has told me all things whatsoever I have
done. Is not He the Christ? They went therefore out of the
city, and came unto Him. In the mean time the disciples
prayed Him, saying : Rabbi, eat. But He said to them : I have
meat to eat which you know not. The disciples therefore said
one to another: Hath any man brought Him to eat? Jesus
saith to them : My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me,
that I may perfect His work. Do not you say. there are yet
SATURDAY Itf THE THIRD WEEK OF I ENT. 131
foui months, and then the harvest cometli? Behold I say to you,
lift up your eyes, and see the countries, for they are white already
to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gather-
eth fruit unto life everlasting: that both he that soweth and
he that reapeth may rejoice together. For in this is the say
ing true : that it is one man that soweth, and it is another that
reapeth. I have sent you to reap that in which you did not
labor, others have labored, and you have entered into their
labors. Now of that city many of the Samaritans believed in
Him, for the word of the woman giving testimony : He told me
all things whatsoever I have done. So when the Samaritans
were come to Him, they desired Him that He would tarry there.
And He abode there two days. And many more believed in
Him because of His own word. And they said to the woman :
We now believe, not for thy saying: for we ourselves have
heard Him, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the
world.
fn tbe Ubirfc Weefe of OLent
Prayer.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that they who,
to mortify their flesh, abstain from food, may, following
justice, abstain from sin. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Daniel xiii. 1-62.
In those days there was a man, that dwelt in Babylon, and
his name was Joakim; and he took a wife whose name was
Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and
one that feared God. For her parents being just, had instructed
their daughter according to the law of Moses. Now Joakim was
very rich, and had an orchard near his house : and the Jews
resorted to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.
And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed
judges that year, of whom the Lord said : Iniquity came out
from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern
the people. These men frequented the house of Joakim, and
all that had any matters of judgment came to them. And when
the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked
in her husband's orchard. And the old men saw her going in
every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust
132 SATURDAY Itf THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
towards her: and they perverted their own mind and turned
away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor re
member just judgments. So they were both wounded with the
love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the
other : for they were ashamed to declare to one another their
lust, being desirous to have to do with her : and they watched
carefully every day to see her : and one said to another : Let
us now go home, for it is dinner-time. So going out, they de
parted one from another. And turning back again, they came
both to the same place : and asking one another the cause, they
acknowledged their lust: and then they agreed upon a time,
when they might find her alone. And it fell out, as they
watched a fit day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the
day before, with two maids only, and was desirous to wash her
self in the orchard : for it was hot weather. And there was
nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and
were considering her. So she said to the maids : Bring me oil,
and washing-balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I
may wash me. And they did as she bade them : and they shut
the doors of the orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch
what she had commanded them, and they knew not that the
elders were hid within. Now when the maids were gone forth,
the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said : Behold the doors
of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in
love with thee : wherefore consent to us, and lie with us. But
if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young
man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy
maids from thee. Susanna sighed and said : I am straitened on
every side : for if I do this thing, it is death to me : and if I
do it not, I shall not escape your hands. But it is better for
me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the
sight of the Lord. With that Susanna cried out with a loud
voice : and the elders also cried out against her. And one of
them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. So when
the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they
rushed in by the back door to see what was the matter. But
after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed ;
for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And
on the next day, when the people were come to Joakim her
husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against
SATURDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
133
(Susanna, to put her to death. And they said before the people :
Send to Susanna, daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And
presently they sent, and she came with her parents, and chil
dren, and all her kindred. Now Susanna was exceeding deli
cate, and beautiful to behold. But those wicked men com
manded that her face should be uncovered (for she was covered)
that so at least they might be satisfied with her beauty. There
fore her friends and all her acquaintance wept. But the two
elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands
upon her head. And she weeping looked up to heaven, for
her heart had confidence in the Lord. And the elders said : As
we walked in the orchard alone, this woman came in with two
maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, and sent away the
maids from her. Then a young man that was there hid came
to her, and lay with her. But we that were in a corner of the
orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw
them lie together. And as for him we could not take him be
cause he was stronger than we, and opening the doors he leaped
out: but having taken this woman, we asked who the young
134 SATbKDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
man was, but she would not tell us : of this thing we are wit
nesses. The multitude believed them as being the elders and
the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said : O eternal
God, Who knowest hidden things, Who knowest all things be
fore they come to pass, Thou knowest that they have borne false
witness against me: and behold I must die, whereas I have
done none of these things which these men have maliciously
forged against me. And the Lord heard her voice. And when
she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy
spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel. And he cried
out with a loud voice : I am clear from the blood of this woman.
Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said:
What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken? But he stand
ing in the midst of them, said : Are ye so foolish, ye children of
Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you
have condemned a daughter of Israel? Return to judgment,
for they have borne false witness against her. So all the people
turned again in haste, and the old men said to him : Come, and
sit thou down among us, and show it us : seeing God hath given
thee the honor of old age. And Daniel said to them : Separate
these two far from one another, and I will examine them. So
when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one of
them and said to him : O thou that are grown old in evil days,
now are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before :
in judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and let
ting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith : The inno
cent and the just thou shalt not kill. Now then, if thou saw-
est her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing
together. He said : Under a mastic tree. And Daniel said :
Well hast thou lied against thy own head : for behold the angel
of God having received the sentence of Him, shall cut thee in
two. And having put him aside, he commanded that the other
should come, and he said to him : O thou seed of Chanaan, and
not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath per
verted thy heart : thus did you do to the daughters of Israel,
and they for fear conversed with you : but a daughter of Juda
would not abide your wickedness. Now therefore tell me,
under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And
lie answered : Under a holm tree. And Daniel said to him :
SATURDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT.
135
Well hast thou also lied against thy own head : for the angel of
the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy
you. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice,
and they blessed God, Who saveth them that trust in Him. And
they rose up against the two elders (for Daniel had convicted
them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to them
as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbor, to fulfil
the law of Moses : and they put them to death, and innocent
blood was saved in that day.
GOSPEL. John viii. 1-11.
At that time : Jesus went unto Mount Olivet. And early in
the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people
came to Him, and sitting down He taught them. And the
scribes and Pharisees bring unto Him a woman taken in
adultery ; and they set her in the midst. And said to Him :
Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. Now
Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what
sayest Thou ? And this they said tempting Him that they might
136 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT,, CALLED " L^ETARE."
accbse Him. But Jesus bowing Himself down, wrote with His
finger on the ground: when therefore they continued asking
Him, He lifted up Himself, and said to them : He that is without
sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again
stooping down, He wrote on the ground. But they hearing
this went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus
alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then
Jesus lifting up Himself, said to her : Woman, where are they
that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? Who said :
No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee.
Go, and now sin no more.
jfourtb Sunfcas of OLent, Gallefc "
BY the Introit of the Mass the Church reminds us of the
joys of heaven, to encourage us to persevering zeal in
penance and fasting, and to patience under persecution, crosses,
and sorrows.
The Introit of the Mass begins with the word Icetare
(rejoice), from which the Sunday derives its name: "Kejoice,
O Jerusalem, and come together, all you that love her. Rejoice
with joy, you that have been in sorrow, that you may exult and
be filled from the breasts of your consolation. I was glad at the
things that were said unto me : we shall go into the house of the
Lord." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we, who are
afflicted for our deeds as we deserve, may be relieved by the
comfort of Thy grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. iv. 23-31.
Brethren : It is written that Abraham had two sons : the
one by a bond- woman, and the other by a free- woman : but he
who was of the bond-woman was born according to the flesh :
but he of the free-woman was by promise : which things are
said by an allegory : for these are the two testaments. The
one from Mount Sina engendering unto bondage : which is
Agar : for Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to
that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED " LJETARE." 137
But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother.
For it is written : Rejoice thou barren, that bearest not : break
forth and cry, thou that travailest not ; for many are the chil
dren of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.
Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted
him that was after the spirit : so also it is now. But what saith
the Scripture? Cast out the bond- woman and her son; for the
son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the
free- woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the
bond- woman, but of the free : by the freedom wherewith Christ
hath made us free.
Explanation.
The Jews, typified by Agar, served God like servants, from
fear of punishment and in the hope of rewards. Christians,
typified by Sara, lift up their hands to Him as their Father, and
if they fulfil His will faithfully will become partakers of His
glory in heaven.
Prayer.
O Jesus, grant that by fasting, prayer, and patience under
persecution I may partake in Thy sufferings, and be found
worthy of Thy divine promises and Thy eternal consolations in
the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.
GOSPEL. John vi. 1-15.
At that time : Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is
that of Tiberias: and a great multitude followed Him, because
they saw the miracles which He did on them that were diseased.
Jesus therefore went up into a mountain : and there He sat with
His disciples. Now the Pasch, the festival-day of the Jews, was
near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up His eyes,
and seen that a very great multitude cometh to Him, He said to
Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And
this He said to try him, for He Himself knew what He would
do. Philip answered Him : Two hundred pennyworth of bread
is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One
of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to
Him : There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two
fishes : but what are these among so many ? Then Jesus said :
/
138 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED "LJETARE."
Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the
place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five
thousand. And Jesus took the loaves ; and when He had given
thanks, He distributed to them that were sat down: in like
manner also of the fishes as much as they would. And when
they were filled, He said to His disciples : Gather up the frag
ments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up there
fore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five
barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had
eaten. Now those men, .when they had seen what a miracle
Jesus had done, said : This is of a truth the prophet that is to
come into the world. Jesus therefore, when He knew that they
would come to take Him by force and make Him king, fled
again into the mountain Himself alone.
Why did Christ thus try St. Philip?
1. To try his faith and confidence. 2. To teach us to make
use of natural and ordinary means before we have recourse to
the supernatural. 3. So that the miracle would be the more
striking to the people, when they were satisfied that the provi
sions they had were quite small and insufficient. 4. That we
might have confidence in God, Who is a helper in time of tribu
lation (Ps. ix. 10).
What ceremonies did Our Saviour use at this miracle, and
why?
He first looked up to heaven, to remind us that every good
gift comes from above, and that it is God only Who opens His
hand, and fills all with benediction. 2. He thanked His
heavenly Father, to show us that we also should be careful to
t thank God for all His benefits. The tabl^, &$ys St. Chrysostom, \
V which begins and ends with prayer 3ial^ never know^w^ntT 3.
jHe blessed tTie^brefctTthat "wemigKt learn that his tBTBlessing
of God which gives success.
why did Jesus flee after this miracle?
1. To teach us to seek not the admiration and applause of
men, but only the glory of God an^4he good of our neighbor.
2. To love solituTIeT^fliatpf ar from the noise oi "ihe world, we
may withmoreireedom converse withGod.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, CALLED " L^ETARE.
139
Consolation in Poverty.
To those poor who follow Christ this gospel is full of conso
lation, as it shows that from the very beginning of the world
God has cared for His children. For the^eomfort and preserva
tion of His chosen people He sent Q^sej)hybef ore them into
Egypt (Gen. xlv. 5 ; Ps. civ. 4). He sustained the children of
[Israel/during forty years in the wilderness^^h bread from
heaven (Deut. viii^l^^Se^^e^^OiepropliejEliaj, sending him
and flesh by a raven (in. Kings xvii. 6). He remembered
lying in the lions' den (Dan. xiv. 37). In the New
estament also God has shown His care for His own Bynourish-
^ and feeding them in their greatest need, at times through
thd(instrumentaJity of ammals^tTotheF times by that of /angels\
and^of men\ as we read in the lives of the saints.
Aspiration.
In Thy power and goodness, O my God, I put my trust. I
firmly believe if I fear Thee, and do what is right, I shall,
though poor here, after this life have abundance of good things
from Thee.
140
MONDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
fl&onfcap in tbe ffourtb Weefe of OLent.
Prayer.
GSANT, we beseecli Thee, Almighty God, that, keeping with
yearly devotion these sacred observances, we may please
Thee both in body and mind. Through Christ, etc.
EPISTLE, in. Kings Hi. 16-28.
In those days : There came two women that were harlots to
King Solomon, and stood before him : and one of them said :
I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house,
and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber. And
the third day after that I was delivered she also was delivered,
and we were together, and no other person with us in the house,
only we two. And this woman's child died in the night: for
in her sleep she overlaid him. And rising in the dead time of
the night, she took my child from my side, while I thy hand
maid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom : and laid her dead
child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give
MONDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT. 141
my child suck, behold it was dead : but considering him more
diligently when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine
which I bore. And the other woman answered : It is not so as
thou sayest, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the
contrary, she said : Thou liest : for my child liveth, and thy
child is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.
Then said the king : This one saith : My child is alive, and thy
child is dead. And the other answereth : JSTay, but thy child is
dead, and mine liveth. The king therefore said: Bring me a
sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king,
divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one,
and half to the other. But the woman whose child was alive,
said to the king (for her bowels wrere moved upon her child) : I
beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill
it. But the other said : Let it be neither mine nor thine, but
divide it. The king answered, and said : Give the living child
to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother
thereof. And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had
judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God
was in him to judgment.
GOSPEL. John ii. 13-25.
At that time : the Pasch of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple them that
sold oxen and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sit
ting. And when He had made, as it were, a scourge of little
cords, He drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and
the oxen, and the money of the changers He poured out, and the
tables He overthrew. And to them that sold doves He said :
Take these things hence, and make not the house of My Father
a house of traffic. And His disciples remembered that it was
written : The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up. The Jews
therefore answered, and said to Him : What sign dost Thou show
unto us, seeing Thou dost these things? Jesus answered, and
said to them : Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise
it up. The Jews then said : Six and forty years was this temple
in building, and wilt Thou raise it up in three days? But He
spoke of the temple of His body. When therefore He was
risen again from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had
said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word that
142 TUESDAY IK THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
Jesus had said. JSTow when He was at Jerusalem at the Pasch,
upon the festival-day, many believed in His name, seeing His
signs which He did. But Jesus did not trust Himself unto them,
for that He knew all men, and because He needed not that any
should give testimony of man : for He knew what was in man.
Ttuesfcas in tbe jfourtb Meefe of OLent.
Prayer.
'YTTE beseech Thee, O Lord, that the fasts of this holy observ-
VV ance may procure us an increase of piety in our lives,
and the continual help of Thy mercy. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Exodus xxxii. 7-14.
In those days the Lord spoke to Moses, saying : Go, get thee
down : thy people, which thou hast brought out of the land of
Egypt, hath sinned. They have quickly strayed from the way
which thou didst show them : and they have made to themselves
a molten calf, and have adored it, and sacrificing victims to it,
have said : These are thy gods, O Israel, that have brought thee
out of the land of Egypt. And again the Lord said to Moses :
I see that this people is stiff-necked : let Me alone, that My wrath
may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them, and
I will make of thee a great nation. But Moses besought the
Lord his God, sayin^: Why, O Lord, is Thy indignation en
kindled against Thy people, whom Thou hast brought out of
the land of Egypt, %ith great power, and with a mighty hand?
Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech Thee : He craftily brought
them out, that He might kill them in the mountains, and destroy
them from the earth : let Thy anger cease, and be appeased upon
the wickedness of Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou sworest by Thy own
self, saying : I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven :
and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will give to your
seed, and you shall possess it forever. And the Lord was ap
peased from doing the evil which He had spoken against His
people.
GOSPEL. John vii. 14-31.
At that time : About the midst of the feast, Jesus went up
into the temple, and taught. And the Jews wondered, saying:
TUESDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
143
How doth this man know letters, having never learned? Jesus
answered them and said : My doctrine is not Mine, but His that
sent Me. If any man will do the will of Him : he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of My
self. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory : but
he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and
there is no injustice in him. Did not Moses give you the law,
and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why seek you to kill
Me? The multitude answered, and said: Thou hast a devil;
who seeketh to kill Thee? Jesus answered and said to them:
One work I have done ; and you all wonder : therefore Moses
gave you circumcision (not because it is of Moses, but of the
fathers) ; and on the Sabbath-day you circumcise a man. If a
man receive circumcision on the Sabbath-day, that the law of
Moses may not be broken ; are you angry at Me because I have
healed the whole man on the Sabbath-day? Judge not accord
ing to the appearance, but judge just judgment. Some there-
fore of Jerusalem said : Is not this He Whom they seek to kill?
And behold He speaketh openly, and they say nothing to Him.
144 WEDNESDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
Have the rulers known for a truth that this is the Christ? But
we know this man whence He is : but when the Christ cometh,
no man knoweth whence He is. Jesus therefore cried out in
the temple, teaching and saying : You both know Me, and you
know whence I am : and I am not come of Myself ; but He that
sent Me is true, Whom you know not. I know Him, because I
am from Him, and He hath sent Me. They sought therefore
to apprehend Him : and no man laid hands on Him, because His
hour was not yet come. But of the people many believed in
Him.
in tbe jf outtb Weefc of Xent
Prayer.
OGoD, Who grantest to the just the reward of their merits,
and to sinners pardon, by means of fasting, have mercy
on Thy supplicants, that the confession of our guilt may enable
us to receive the forgiveness of our sins. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias i. 16-19.
Thus saith the Lord God : Wash yourselves, be clean, take
away the evil of your devices from My eyes : cease to do per
versely, learn to do well : seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,
judge for the fatherless, defend the widow. And then come,
and accuse Me, saith the Lord : if your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be made as white as snow : and if they be red as crimson,
they shall be white as wool. If you be willing, and will hearken
to Me, you shall eat the good things of the land, saith the Lord
Almighty.
GOSPEL. John ix. 1-38.
At that time : Jesus passing by, saw a man who was blind
from his birth : and His disciples asked Him : Kabbi, who hath
sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?
Jesus answered : Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents ;
but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I
must work the works of Him that sent Me, whilst it is day : the
night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the
world, I am the light of the world. When He had said these
things, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and
spread the clay upon his eyes, and said to him : Go, wash in the
WEDNESDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OP LENT.
145
pool of Siloe, which is interpreted, Sent. He went therefore,
and washed, and he came seeing. The neighbors therefore,
and they who had seen him before that he was a beggar, said :
Is not this he that sat, and begged? Some said: This is he.
But others said : No, but he is like him. But he said : I am
he. They said therefore to him: How were thy eyes opened?
He answered: That man that is called Jesus, made clay, and
anointed my eyes, and said to me : Go to the pool of Siloe, and
wash. And I went, I washed, and I see. And they said to
him: Where is He? He saith, I know not. They bring him
that had been blind to the Pharisees. JSTow it was the Sabbath
when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Again there
fore the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight.
But he said to them : He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed,
and I see. Some therefore of the Pharisees said : This man is
not of God, Who keepeth not the Sabbath. But others said :
How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there
was a division among them. They say therefore to the blind
man again : What sayest thou of Him that hath opened thy
eyes? And he said : He is a prophet. The Jews then did not
believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received
his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received
his sight, and asked them, saying: Is this your son, who you
146 THURSDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents
answered them, and said : We know that this is our son, and
that he was born blind ; but how he now seeth, we know not :
or who hath opened his eyes, we know not : ask himself ; he is
of age, let him speak for himself. These things his parents
said, because they feared the Jews : for the Jews had already
agreed among themselves, that if any man should confess Him
to be Christ he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore
did his parents say : He is of age, ask him. They therefore
called the man again that had been blind, and said to him : Give
glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He said
therefore to them : If He be a sinner, I know not : one thing I
know, that whereas I was blind, now I see. They said then to
him : What did He to thee? How did He open thy eyes? He
answered them : I have told you already, and you have heard :
why would you hear it again? will you also become His disci
ples? They reviled him therefore, and said : Be tliou His dis
ciple ; but we are the disciples of Moses. We know that God
spoke to Moses : but as to this man, we know not from whence
He is. The man answered, and said to them : Why, herein is
a wonderful thing that you know not from whence He is, and
He hath opened my eyes. 'Now we know that God doth not
hear sinners : but if a man be a server of God, and doth His
will, him He heareth. From the beginning of the world it hath
not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born
blind. Unless this man were of God He could not do anything.
They answered and said to him : Thou wast wholly born in sins,
and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard
that they had cast him out: and when He had found him,
He said to him : Dost thou believe in the Son of God ? He
answered, and said : Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in
Him? And Jesus said to him: Thou hast both seen Him, and
it is He that talketh with thee. And he said : I believe, Lord.
And falling down he adored Him.
in tbe ffourtb Weefe of
Prayer.
RANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who are
chastised by the fasts we have undertaken, may rejoice
THURSDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
147
with holy devotion ; that, our affections being weakened, we may
more easily apprehend heavenly things. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, iv. Kings iv. 25-38.
In those days a Sunamite woman came to the man of God
to Mount Carmel : and when the man of God saw her coming
towards, he said to Giezi his servant : Behold that Sunamitess.
Go therefore to meet her, and say to her : Is all well with thee,
and with thy husband, and with thy son? And she answered:
Well. And when she came to the man of God to the mount,
she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her.
And the man of God said : Let her alone, for her soul is in
anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told
me. And she said to him : Did I ask a son of my lord ? did I
not say to thee: Do not deceive me? Then he said to Giezi:
Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If
any man meet thee, salute him not : and if any man salute thee,
answer him not : and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
But the mother of the child said: As the Lord liveth, and as
148 FRIDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. He arose, therefore, and
followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the
staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor
sense : and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying : The
child is not risen. Eliseus therefore went into the house, and
behold the child lay dead on his bed ; and going in he shut the
door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord.
And he went up, and lay upon the child : and he put his mouth
upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon
his hands : and he bowed himself upon him, and the child's flesh
grew warm. Then he returned and walked in the house, once
to and fro : and he went up, and lay upon him : and the child
gaped seven times, and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi,
and said to him : Call this Sunamitess. And she being called
went in to him : and he said : Take up thy son. She came and
fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground : and took
up her son, and went out. And Eliseus returned to Galgal.
GOSPEL. Luke vii. 11-16.
At that time Jesus went into a city that is called Nairn ; and
there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And
when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man
was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a
widow : and a great multitude of the city was with her. Whom
when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her,
He said to her : Weep not. And He came near, and touched
the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And He said :
Young man, I say to thee, arise. And he that was dead, sat up,
and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. And
there came a fear on them all : and they glorified God, saying, A
great prophet is risen up among us : and, God hath visited His
people.
In tbe jf ourtb TKHeeft of Xent
Prayer.
OGod, Who renewest the world by unspeakable mysteries,
grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church may profit by
Thy eternal institutions, and not be deprived of Thy temporal
assistance. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
FKIDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT. 149
EPISTLE, m. Kings xvii. 17-24.
In those days the son of the woman, the mistress of the
house, fell sick, and the sickness was very grievous, so that there
was no breath left in him. And she said to Elias : What have I
to do with thee, thou man of God? art thou come to me that my
iniquities should be remembered, and that thou shouldst kill my
son ? And Elias said to her : Give me thy son. And he took
him out of her bosom, and carried him into the upper chamber
where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried
to the Lord, and said: O Lord my God, hast Thou afflicted also
the widow, with whom I am after a sort maintained, so as to kill
her son? And he stretched, and measured himself upon the
child three times, and cried to the Lord, and said : O Lord my
God, let the soul of this child, I beseech Thee, return into his
body. And the Lord heard the voice of Elias : and the soul of
the child returned into him, and he revived. And Elias took
the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber to the
house below, and delivered him to his mother, and said to her :
Behold thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elias : Now, by
150 FRIDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
this I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the
Lord in thy mouth is true.
GOSPEL. John xi. 1-45.
At that time : There was a certain man sick named Lazarus, of
Bethania, of the town of Mary and of Martha her sister. (And
Mary was she that anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped
His feet with her hair: whose brother Lazarus was sick.) His
sisters therefore sent to Him, saying: Lord, behold, he whom
Thou lovest is sick. And Jesus hearing it, said to them : This
sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God : that the
Son of God may be glorified by it. Now Jesus loved Martha,
and her sister Mary, and Lazarus. "When He had heard therefore
that he was sick, He still remained in the same place two days :
then after that He said to His disciples : Let us go into Judea
again. The disciples say to Him : Rabbi, the Jews but now
sought to stone Thee : and goest Thou thither again ? Jesus
answered : Are there not twelve hours of the day ? If a man
walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light
of this world : but if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because
the light is not in him. These things He said ; and after that
He said to them : Lazarus our friend sleepeth : but I go that I
may awake him out of sleep. His disciples therefore said : Lord,
if he sleep, he shall do well. But Jesus spoke of his death;
and they thought that He spoke of the repose of sleep. Then
therefore Jesus said to them plainly : Lazarus is dead ; and
I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that you may
believe : but let us go to him. Thomas therefore, who is called
Didymus, said to his f ellow- disciples : Let us also go, that we
may die with Him. Jesus therefore came and found that he had
been four days already in the grave. (Now Bethania was near
Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) And many of the Jews
were come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning
their brother. Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus
was come, went to meet Him ; but Mary sat at home. Martha
therefore said to Jesus: Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever
Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus saith to her :
Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith to Him: I know
that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus
FRIDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
151
said to her : I am the resurrection and the life : he that believeth
in Me although he be dead, shall live : and every one that liveth
and believeth in Me, shall not die forever. Believest thou this?
She saith to Him : Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art
Christ the Son of the living God, Who art come into this world.
And when she had said these things, she went, and called her
sister Mary secretly, saying : The Master is come and calleth for
thee. She, as soon as she heard this, riseth quickly and cometh
to Him. For Jesus was not yet come into the town : but He
was still in that place where Martha had met Him. The Jews
therefore, who were with her in the house and comforted her,
when they saw Mary that she rose up speedily and went out,
followed her, saying : She goeth to the grave, to weep there.
When Mary therefore was come where Jesus was, seeing Him,
she fell down at His feet, and saith to Him: Lord, if Thou
hadst been here, my brother had not died. Jesus therefore,
when He saw her weeping, and the Jews that were come with
her, weeping, groaned in the spirit, and troubled Himself, and
said: Where have you laid him? They said to Him : Lord, comq
152 SATURDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT.
and see. And Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said : Behold
how He loved him. Biit some of them said: Could not He
that opened the eyes of the man born blind, have caused that
this man should not die? Jesus therefore again groaning in
Himself cometh to the sepulchre: now it was a cave; and a
stone was laid over it. Jesus saith: Take away the stone.
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to Him : Lord, by
this time he stinketh. for he is now of four days. Jesus saith
to her : Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt
see the glory of God? They took therefore the stone away.
And Jesus lifting up His eyes said : Father, I give Thee thanks
that Thou hast heard Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me
always, but because of the people who stand about have I said
it : that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me. When He
had said these things, He cried with a loud voice: Lazarus,
come forth. And presently he that had been dead came forth,
bound feet and hands with winding-bands, and his face was
bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: Loose him
and let him go. Many therefore of the Jews who were come
to Mary and Martha, and had seen the things that Jesus did,
believed in Him.
in tbe ffourtb Meefe of atcnt
Prayer.
AY our devotion be made fruitful by Thy grace, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, for the fasts we have undertaken will be
come profitable to us only if they are pleasing to Thy mercy.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias xlix. 8-15.
Thus saith the Lord : In an acceptable time I have heard
thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee : and I have
preserved thee, and given thee to be a covenant of the people,
that thou mightest raise up the earth, and possess the inheritances
that were destroyed : that thou mightest say to them that are
bound : Come forth : and to them that are in darkness : Show
yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures
shall be in every plain. They shall not hunger, nor thirst,
neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them : for He that is
PASSION SUNDAY. 153
merciful to them, shall be their shepherd, and at the fountains
of waters He shall give them drink. And I will make all My
mountains a way, and My paths shall be exalted. Behold these
shall come from afar, and behold these from the north and from
the sea, and these from the south country. Give praise, O ye
heavens, and rejoice, O earth ; ye mountains, give praise with
jubilation: because the Lord hath comforted His people, and
will have mercy on His poor ones. And Sion said : The Lord
hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me. Can a
woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of
her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee,
saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. John viii. 12-20.
At that time : Jesus spoke to the multitudes of the Jews,
saying : I am the light of the world : he that followeth Me,
walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The
Pharisees therefore said to Him : Thou givest testimony of Thy
self : Thy testimony is not true. Jesus answered, and said to
them : Although I give testimony of Myself, My testimony is
true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but you
know not whence I come, or whither I go. You judge accord
ing to the flesh : I judge not any man. And if I do judge, My
judgment is true ; because I am not alone, but I and the Father
that sent Me. And in your law it is written, that the testimony
of two men is true. I am one that give testimony of Myself : and
the Father that sent Me, giveth testimony of Me. They said
therefore to Him: Where is Thy Father? Jesus answered:
Neither Me do you know, nor My Father : if you did know Me,
perhaps you would know My Father also. These words Jesus
spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple : and no man laid
hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come.
passion Sunfcas.
"Tj^ROM this day, called Passion Sunday, until Easter the Church
-•- gives herself up entirely to meditation on the passion of
Jesus. To-day the crucifixes are covered, in remembrance that
from this time until His entrance into Jerusalem Jesus walked
no more openly among the Jews. From to-day the Glory be to
154 PASSION SUNDAY.
the Father is omitted in the Mass, because in the person of Jesua
Christ the Most Holy Trinity was dishonored. As on this day
the high priests held council about Our Lord, the Church says, at
the Introit of the Mass, in the name of the suffering Jesus, the
words of the psalmist: "Judge me, O God, and distinguish
my cause from the nation that is not holy ; deliver me from the
unjust and deceitful man, for Thou art God, my strength.
Send forth Thy light and Thy truth, they have conducted me
and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy tabernacles ' '
(Ps. xlii. 1-3).
Prayer.
"We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon Thy
family, that by Thy bounty it may be governed in body, and by
Thv preservation be kept in mind. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Heb. ix. 11-15.
Brethren : Christ, being come an high priest of the good
things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not
made with hands, that is, not of this creation : neither by the
blood of goats, nor of calves, but by His own blood, entered
once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For
if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer
being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of
the flesh : how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who by
the Holy Ghost offered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse
our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And
therefore He is the mediator of the New Testament : that by
means of His death, for the redemption of those transgressions,
which were under the former testamer.t, they that are called may
receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Explanation.
St. Paul here teaches that Jesus Christ has given full satis
faction for the sins of men, and opened to all the entrance into
the sanctuary. The Church proposes this epistle to us in order
that we may thank God for the great mercy of the redemption,
love and praise Him, and be encouraged to share in His suffer
ings by fasting, prayer, and penitential works.
PASSION SUNDAY. 155
Aspiration.
Give us Thy grace, O meekest Jesus, that by true sorrow for
our sins, and by the practice of good works, we may become
partakers of Thy bitter sufferings, and obtain the promised in
heritance of eternal life. Amen.
GOSPEL. John viii. 46-59.
At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews : Which
of you shall convince Me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why
do you not believe Me? He that is of God heareth the words
of God. Therefore you hear them not because you are not of
God. The Jews therefore answered, and said to Him : Do not
we say well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus
answered : I have not a devil : but I honor My Father, and you
have dishonored Me. But I seek not My own glory : there is
One that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to you : if
any man keep My word, he shall not see death forever. The
Jews therefore said : Now we know that Thou hast a devil.
Abraham is dead, and the prophets ; and Thou sayest : If any
man keep My word, he shall not taste death forever. Art Thou
greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets
are dead. Whom dost Thou make Thyself? Jesus answered :
If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father that
glorifieth Me, of Whom you say that He is your God. And you
have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I shall say
that I know Him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do
know Him, and do keep His word. Abraham your father
rejoiced that he might see My day. He saw it, and was glad.
The Jews therefore said to Him : Thou art not yet fifty years
old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them : Amen,
amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They
took up stones therefore to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself,
and went out of the temple.
Explanation.
When Our Saviour said : " He that is of God heareth God's
words, ' ' He meant to point out to the Jews the cause of their
f stubborn unbelief. J He TKaFls^oFlji^ thgj;
which is Godlike/ When, thereforepwe'l^Sly^
•of God ajlJjOTv^tp^o^what we have heard, we testify that we
156 MONDAY IN PASSION WEEK.
are the children of God. Instead of reflecting on Our Saviour's
words the Jews poured out their offended pride and abuse, and
called Him a Samaritan, and one having a devil. The same
thing happens to-day. Instead of listening to the truth the
/ proud man answers with calumny and contempt. Our Saviour
V hid Himself from the Jews to teach us to forgive a'mT^void"
/ our enemies ratheijlmi^^ on
A them. .
Consolation under Insults.
/" O friend, what insult can be given to you which your
\ Saviour has notjjwffpre (j ? He w#s called a glutton and a drunk
's ard, a heretic and a rebel^a friend and associate of sinners, and
1 one wEo^SHlSj^e^il^^He was even told thaFJe^Ja^Tou^ devils
J by tn"e""prince of devils (Matt. ix. 34). He, therefore, com-
*/ ft\ C f°rts His discigTes^mtir the words, " If they have called the
J goodman 6ithe jiou^Tl^eelzebub, how much more them of his
/ *\ household ? " (Matt. xTs 5 . ) There is no sorrow so bitter that He
\ has noTTborne it, for what was more painful and grievous than
/? the death of the cross? Christians, "think diligently upon
j Him that endured such opposition from sinners against Himself,
"A that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds, at contempt
'and insult" (Heb. xii. 3).
fn passion TPtteefc*
Prayer.
SANCTIFY our fasts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and mercifully
grant us the pardon of all our faults. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jonas iii. 1-10.
In those days : The word of the Lord came to Jonas the
prophet the second time, saying : Arise, and go to Ninive the
great city : and preach in it the preaching that I bid thee.
And Jonas arose, and went to Mnive, according to the word of
the Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days' journey.
And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey : and
he cried, and said : Yet forty days, and Ninive shall be de
stroyed. And the men of Ninive believed in God : and they
proclaimed a fast, and put on sack-cloth from the greatest to the
least. And the word came to the king of Ninive : and he rose
TUESDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 157
up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was
clothed in sack-cloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be
proclaimed and published in Ninive from the mouth of the king
and of his princes, saying : Let neither men nor beasts, oxen nor
sheep, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water.
And let men and beasts be covered with sack-cloth, and cry to
the Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one
from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands.
Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive : and will turn away
from His fierce anger, and we shall not perish? And God saw
their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and
our Lord God had mercy on His people.
GOSPEL. John vii. 32-39.
At that time : The rulers and Pharisees sent ministers to ap
prehend Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them : Yet a little while
I am with you : and then I go to Him that sent Me. You shall
seek Me, arid shall not find Me : and where I am, thither you
cannot come. The Jewrs therefore said among themselves :
Whither will He go, that we shall not find Him? will He go
unto the dispersed among the gentiles, and teach the gentiles?
What is this saying that He hath said : You shall seek Me, and
shall not find Me: and where I am, you cannot come? And
on the last and great day of the festivity, Jesus stood and cried,
saying: If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink.
He that believeth in Me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. Now this He said of the
Spirit which they should receive who believed in Him.
In passion Meefe.
Prayer.
MAY our fasts be acceptable to Thee, O Lord, and, by ex
piating our sins, may they make us worthy of Thy
grace, and conduct us to eternal salvation. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Daniel xiv. 28-42.
In those days the Babylonians came to the king, and said :
Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house.
And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently : and
158
TUESDAY IN PASSION WEEK.
being constrained by necessity he delivered Daniel to them.
And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six
days. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had
given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep : but
then they were not given unto them to the intent that they
might devour Daniel. Now there was in Judea a prophet called
Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a
bowl : and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers.
And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc : Carry the dinner
which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions'
den. And Habacuc said : Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do
I know the den. And the angel of the Lord took him by the
top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and
set him in Babylon over the den in the force of his spirit. And
Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take
the dinner that God hath sent thee. And Daniel said : Thou
hast remembered me, O God, and Thou hast not forsaken them
that love Thee. And Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of
the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place. And
WEDNESDAY IK PASSION WEEK. 159
upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel : and he
came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting
in the midst of the lions. And the king cried out with a loud
voice, saying : Great art Thou, O Lord the God of Daniel.
And he drew him out of the lions' den. But those that had
been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they
were devoured in a moment before him. Then the king said :
Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of
Daniel : for He is the Saviour, working signs, and wonders in
the earth : Who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den.
GOSPEL. John vii. 1-13.
At that time : Jesus walked in Galilee ; for He would not
walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the
Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. And His brethren said
to Him: Pass from hence, and go into Judea: that Thy dis
ciples also may see Thy works which Thou dost. For there is
no man that doth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to
be known openly. If Thou do these things, manifest Thyself to
the world. For neither did His brethren believe in Him.
Then Jesus said to them : My time is not yet come : but your
time is always ready. The world cannot hate you ; but Me it
hateth : because I give testimony of it, that the works thereof
are evil. Go you up to this festival-day, but I go not up to this
festival- day : because My time is not accomplished. When He
had said these things, He Himself stayed in Galilee. But after
His brethren were gone up, then He also went up to the feast,
not openly, but as it were in secret. The Jews therefore sought
Him on the festival-day, and said: Where is He? And there
was much murmuring among the multitude concerning Him.
For some said : He is a good man. And others said : No, but
He seduceth the people. Yet no man spoke openly of Him, for
fear of the Jews.
in passion Weefe*
Prayer.
SANCTIFY this fast, O God, and mercifully enlighten the hearts
of Thy faithful ; and to those whom Thou gran test the
grace of devotion mercifully grant, when they pray to Thee, a
favorable hearing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
160 WEDNESDAY IN PASSION WEEK.
EPISTLE. Leviticus xix. 1, 2, 11-19.
In those days : The Lord spoke to Moses, saying : Speak to all
the congregation of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to
them: 'I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal. You
shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbor. Thou
shalt not swear falsely by My name, nor profane the name of
thy God. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not calumniate thy
neighbor, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that
has been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morn
ing. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumbling-
block before the blind : but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God,
because I am the Lord. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust,
nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor
honor the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbor
according to justice. Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whis
perer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood
of thy neighbor. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy
brother in thy heart, but reprove him openly, lest thou incur
sin through him. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the
injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself.
I am the Lord. Keep ye My laws, for I am the Lord your
God.
GOSPEL. John x. 22-38.
At that time : It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem :
and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solo
mon's porch. The Jews therefore came round about Him, and
said to Him : How long dost Thou hold our souls in suspense?
if Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them : I
speak to you, and you believe not : the works that I do in the
name of My Father, they give testimony of Me. But you do
not believe: because you are not of My sheep. My sheep
hear My voice: and I know them, and they follow Me. And I
give them life everlasting, and they shall not perish forever,
and no man shall pluck them out of My hand. That which My
Father hath given Me, is greater than all : and no man can
snatch them out of the hand of My Father. I and the Father
are one. The Jews then took up stones to stone Him. Jesus
answered them : Many good works I have showed you from My
Father ; for which of those works do you stone Me ? The Jews
THURSDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 161
answered Him: For a good work we stone Thee not, but for
blasphemy; and because that Thou being a man, makest Thyself
God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I
said, you are gods? If He called them gods, to whom the
word of God was spoken, and the Scripture cannot be broken :
do you say of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified and sent
into the world : Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son
of God? If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.
But if I do, though you will not believe Me, believe the works :
that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I
in the Father.
in passion Weefe.
Prayer.
KANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the dignity of
human nature, wounded by intemperance, may be re
formed by healthful abstinence. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Daniel iii. 34-45.
In those days Azarias prayed to the Lord, saying : O Lord
our God, deliver us not up forever, we beseech Thee, for Thy
name's sake, and abolish not Thy covenant. And take not
away Thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham Thy beloved,
and Isaac Thy servant, and Israel Thy holy one : to whom Thou
hast spoken promising that Thou wouldst multiply their seed as
the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the seashore.
For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are
brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. Neither is
there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or
sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first-fruits before
Thee, that we may find Thy mercy : nevertheless in a contrite
heart and humble spirit let us be accepted. As in holocausts of
rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs : so let our
sacrifice be made in Thy sight this day, that it may please Thee :
for there is no confusion to them that trust in Thee. And now
we follow Thee with all our heart, and we fear Thee, and seek
Thy face. Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according
to Thy meekness, and according to the multitude of Thy mercy.
And deliver us according to Thy wonderful works, and give
162 THURSDAY IN PASSION WEEK.
glory to Thy name, O Lord: and let all them be confounded
that show evils to Thy servants, let them be confounded in all
Thy might, and let their strength be broken. And let them
know that Thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious over
all the world, O Lord our God.
GOSPEL. Luke vii. 36-50.
At that time one of the Pharisees desired Him to eat
with him. And He went into the house of the Pharisee, and
sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city a
sinner, when she knew that He sat at meat in the Pharisee's
house, brought an alabaster box of ointment : and standing behind
at His feet, she began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them
with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed
them with the ointment. And the Pharisee, who had invited
Him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man if He
were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of
woman this is that toucheth Him : that she is a sinner. And
Jesus answering, said to him : Simon, I have somewhat to say
to thee. But he said : Master, say it. A certain creditor had
two debtors : the one owed five hundred pence, and the other
fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave
them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most?
Simon answering said : I suppose that he to whom he forgave
most. And He said to him : Thou hast judged rightly. And
turning to the woman, He said unto Simon : Dost thou see this
woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest Me no water for
My feet : but she with tears hath washed My feet, and with her
hairs hath wiped them. Thou gavest Me no kiss : but she, since
she came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil
thou didst not anoint : but she with ointment hath anointed My
feet. Wherefore I say to thee : Many sins are forgiven her,
because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he
loveth less. And He said to her : Thy sins are forgiven thee.
And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within them
selves : Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And He said to
the woman : Thy faith hath made thee safe : go in peace.
FRIDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 163
jf rifcas fn passion Timeefe*
Prayer.
~^\ /TEKCIFULLY infuse Thy grace into our hearts, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, that, by doing voluntary penance for our
sins, we may be punished here, rather than be condemned to
punishment for eternity. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jerem. xvii. 13-18.
In those days Jeremias said: O Lord, the hope of Israel:
all that forsake Thee shall be confounded : they that depart from
Thee, shall be written in the earth : because they have forsaken
the Lord the vein of living waters: heal me, O Lord, and I shall
be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my
praise. Behold they say to me : Where is the word of the Lord?
let it come. And I am not troubled, following Thee for my
pastor : and I have not desired the day of man, Thou knowest
it. That which went out of my lips, hath been right in Thy
sight. Be not Thou a terror unto me, Thou art my hope in the
day of affliction. Let them be confounded that persecute me,
and let not me be confounded : let them be afraid, and let not
me be afraid : bring upon them the day of affliction, and with
a double destruction, destroy them, O Lord our God.
GOSPEL. John xi. 47-54.
At that time : The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered
a council, and said : What do we, for this man doth many mira
cles? If we let Him alone so, all will believe in Him, and
the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation.
But one of them named Caiphas, being the high priest that year,
said to them : You know nothing. Neither do you consider
that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the
people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this he
spoke not of himself : but being the high priest of that year, he
prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. And not only
for the nation, but to gather together in one the children of God,
that were dispersed. From that day, therefore, they devised to
put Him to death. Wherefore Jesus walked no more openly
among the Jews, but He went into a country near the desert,
unto a city that is called Ephrem, and there He abode with His
disciples.
164: SATURDAY IN PASSION WEEK.
Saturfcap in passion Weefe,
Prayer.
M
"AY Thy right hand defend Thy suppliant people, we be
seech Thee, O Lord, and worthily instruct them, being
purified in Thy sight, that by present consolation it may profit
for future good things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jer. xviii. 18-23.
In those days the impious Jews said : Come, and let us invent
devices against Jeremias : for the law shall not perish from the
priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet :
come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no
heed to all his words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the
voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, be
cause they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I
have stood in Thy sight, to speak good for them, and to turn
away Thy indignation from them. Therefore deliver up their
children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword :
let their wives be bereaved of children, and widows : and let
the husbands be slain by death : let their young men be stabbed
with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out of their houses :
for Thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly : because
they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my
feet. But Thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me
unto death : forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be
blotted out from Thy sight : let them be overthrown before Thy
eyes ; in the time of Thy wrath do Thou destroy them, O Lord
our God.
GOSPEL. John xii. 10-36.
At that time a great multitude, that was come to the
festival-day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem, took branches of palm-trees and went forth to. meet
Him, and cried: Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in the
name of the Lord, the King of Israel. And Jesus found a
young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written ; Fear not, daughter
of Sion: behold thy King cometh sitting on an ass's colt.
These things His disciples did not know at the first : but when
SATURDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 165
Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things
were written of Him, and that they had done these things to
Him. The multitude therefore gave testimony, which wras
with Him when He called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised
him from the dead. For which reason also the people came to
meet Him : because they heard that He had done this miracle£
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves : Do you see that
we prevail nothing? behold, the whole world is gone after Him,
Now there were certain gentiles among them who came up to
adore on the festival-day. These therefore came to Philip, who
was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying: Sir, we
would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew. Again
Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, say
ing : The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into
the ground die, itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth
forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it : and he
that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal.
If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me : and where I
am, there also shall My minister be. If any man minister to
Me, him will My Father honor. Now is My soul troubled.
And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour. But
for this cause I came unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.
A voice therefore came from heaven : I have both glorified it
and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore that stood
and heard said that it thundered. Others said, An angel spoke
to Him. Jesus answered, and said: This voice came not be
cause of Me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of the
world : now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I,
if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself.
(Now this He said, signifying what death He should die.) The
multitude answered Him: We have heard out of the law, that
Christ abideth forever : and how sayest Thou : The Son of man
must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? Jesus therefore
said to them : Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk
whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not.
And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be
the children of light. These things Jesus spoke, and He went
away, and hid Himself from them.
166 PALM SUNDAY.
palm Sunfcas.
is this day called Palm Sunday?
1. In memory of the triumphant entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem, when He was received by the devout people with
palms. 2. Because the Church to-day blesses palms, with which
a solemn procession is held.
Why are the palms blessed?
1. To protect in body and soul those who carry them with
devotion. 2. To bless the dwellings into which the palms are
brought. 3. To bring before us how God, by the entrance
into Jerusalem with palms, has represented the victory of Jesus
over the prince of darkness.
In the Introit of to-day's Mass the Church reminds us of the
sufferings of Our Saviour, and says : " O Lord, remove not Thy
help to a distance from me, look towards my defence, save me
from the lion's mouth, and my lowness from the horn of the
unicorn. O God, rny God, look upon me ; why hast Thou for
saken me? far from my salvation are the words of my sin."
(Ps. xxi.)
Prayer.
O almighty and eternal God, Who wouldst have Our Saviour
take flesh and undergo the cross, for man to imitate the example
of His humility, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may both
deserve the instruction of His patience and the fellowship of
His resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. ii. 5-11.
Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus : Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God : but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found
as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death,
even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath
exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all
names : that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And
that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in
the glory of God the Father.
PALM SUNDAY.
167
Instead of the gospel the passion of Our Lord, taken from
the Gospel of St. Matthew (xxvi. , xxvii.), is read during the Mass.
At the words, "Bowing His head, He gave up the ghost," the
priest and congregation kneel and meditate for a short time on
the mysterious event of the accomplishment of our redemption.
At the blessing of the palms the following gospel is said :
GOSPEL. Matt. xxi. 1-9.
At that time: When Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and was
come to Bethphage, unto Mount Olivet: then He sent two
disciples, saying to them : Go ye into the village that is over
against you, and immediately ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt
with her : loose them, and bring them to Me : and if any man
shall say anything to you, say ye that the Lord hath need of
them, and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying : Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh to
thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of her
that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus
commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and
168 PALM SUNDAY.
laid their garments upon them, and made Him sit thereon. And
a very great multitude spread their garments in the way :
and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in tho
way : and the multitudes that went before, and that followed,
cried, saying : Hosanna to the Son of David ! blessed is He that
cometh in the name of the Lord.
Why did Jesus enter with so much solemnity into Jerusalem?
To present Himself as the promised Messias and King of the
Jews, Whose triumphant entry into Jerusalem the prophet
Zachary had predicted.
Why did the people go to meet Jesus with palms in their
hands?
It was done by a divine inspiration, to show that Jesus, as
the victor over death, Satan, and hell, would gain for us the
palm of peace with God, our neighbor, and ourselves, and that
He would open to us the heavenly Jerusalem. And yet these
same people, five days later, desired His death, crying out,
" Crucify Him!" Learn, therefore, to confide in God alone, and
not in man ; for he who is with you to-day may be against you
to-morrow. Be cautious, therefore, and watchful, lest, imitating
the changeableness of the people, you at Easter receive your
Saviour with joy, and then after a little by new sins crucify
Him again (Heb. vi. 6).
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to Matt. xxvi. and xxvii.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : You know that after
two days shall be the Pasch, and the Son of man shall be deliv
ered up to be crucified. Then were gathered together the chief
priests and ancients of the people into the court of the high
priest, who was called Caiphas: and they consulted together,
that by subtilty they might apprehend Jesus and put Him to
death. But they said: Not on the festival-day, lest perhaps
there should be a tumult among the people. And when Jesus
was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, there came to
Him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and
poured it on His head as He was at table. And the disciples
seeing it, had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this
waste? for this might have been sold for much, and given to the
PALM SUNDAY.
169
poor. And Jesus, knowing it, said to them: "Why do you
trouble this woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon
Me. For the poor you have always with you : but Me you have
not always. For she, in pouring this ointment upon My body,
hath done it for My burial. Amen I say to you, wheresoever
this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which
she hath done shall be told for a memory of her. Then went
one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief
priests. And said to them : What will you give me, and I will
deliver Him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces
of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to be
tray Him. And on the first day of the Azymes the disciples
came to Jesus, saying : Where wilt Thou that we prepare for
Thee to eat the Pasch? But Jesus said : Go ye into the city to
a certain man, and say to him : The Master saith : My time is
near at hand, with thee I make the Pasch with My disciples.
And the disciples did as Jesus appointed to them, and they pre-'
pared the Pasch. But when it was evening, He sat down with
His twelve disciples. And whilst they were eating, He said :
Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray Me. And
170 PALM SUNDAY.
they being very much troubled, began every one to say : Is it I,
Lord? But He answering, said: He that dippeth his hand with
Me in the dish, he shall betray Me. The Son of man indeed
goeth, as it is written of Him : but wo to that man by whom the
Son of man shall be betrayed : it were better for him if that
man had not been born. And Judas that betrayed Him, an
swering, said: Is it I, Kabbi? He saith to him: Thou hast said
it. And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and
blessed, and broke : and gave to His disciples, and said : Take
ye and eat : this is My body. And taking the chalice He gave
thanks: and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For
this is My blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for
many unto remission of sins. And I say to you I will not drink
from henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I
shall drink it with you in the kingdom of My Father. And a
hymn being said, they went out unto Mount Olivet. Then
Jesus saith to them: All you shall be scandalized in Me this
night. For it is written : I will strike the shepherd, and the
sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen
again, I will go before you into Galilee. And Peter answering,
said to Him : Although all shall be scandalized in Thee, I will
never be scandalized. Jesus said to him : Amen I say to the@,
that in this night before the cock crow, thou wilt deny Me
thrice. Peter saith to Him : Yea, though I should die with Thee,
I will not deny Thee. And in like manner said all the disciples.
Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called
Gethsemani, and He said to His disciples : Sit you here, till I
go yonder and pray. And taking with Him Peter and the two
sons of Zebedee, He began to grow sorrowful and to be sad.
Then He saith to them : My soul is sorrowful even unto death :
stay you here and watch with Me. And going a little further,
He fell upon His face, praying and saying : My Father, if it be
possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I
will, but as Thou wilt. And He cometh to His disciples, and
findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter : "What ! could you
not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye, and pray that ye
enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh weak. Again the second time He went and prayed, say
ing : My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must
drink it. Thv will be done. And He cometh again, and findeth
PALM SUNDAY. 171
them sleeping : for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them,
He went again : and He prayed the third time, saying the self
same word. Then He cometh to His disciples and saith to them :
Sleep ye now and take your rest : behold the hour is at hand,
and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us go : behold he is at hand that will betray Me. As
He yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with
him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief
priests and the ancients of the people. And he that betrayed
Him gave them a sign, saying : Whomsoever I shall kiss, that
is He, hold Him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said :
Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him :
Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came up and laid
hands on Jesus, and held Him. And behold one of them that
were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword,
and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then
Jesus saith to him : Put up again thy sword into its place : for
all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest
thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me pres-
172 PALM SUNDAY.
ently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the
Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? In that same
hour Jesus said to the multitude : You are come out as it were
to a robber with swords and clubs to apprehend Me. I sat daily
with you teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me.
Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets
might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving Him, fled.
But they holding Jesus led Him to Caiphas the high priest,
where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. And Peter
followed Him afar off, even to the court of the high priest.
And going in he sat with the servants, that he might see the
end. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false
witness against Jesus that they might put Him to death : and
they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in.
And last of all there came two false witnesses, and they said :
This man sai.l, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and
after three days to rebuild it. And the high priest rising up,
said to Him : Answereth Thou nothing to the things which these
witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace. And the
high priest said to Him : I adjure Thee by the living God, that
Thou tell us if Thou be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus saith
to him : Thou hast said it ; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter
you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the
power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the
high priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed:
what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you
have heard the blasphemy : what think you? But they answer
ing, said : He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in His
face, and buffeted Him, and others struck His face with the
palms of their hands, saying : Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who
is he that struck Thee? But Peter sat without in' the court:
and there came to him a servant maid, saying : Thou also wast
with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying:
I know not what thou sayest. And as he went out of the gate
another maid saw him, and she sayeth to them that were there :
This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he
denied with an oath: That I know not the man. And after a
little while they came that stood by, and said to Peter: Surely
thou also art one of them : for even thy speech doth discover
thee. Then he be«;an to curse and to swear that he knew not
PALM SUNDAY.
173
the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter re
membered the word of Jesus which He had said : Before the
cock crow, thou wilt deny Me thrice. And going forth he wept
bitterly. And when morning was come, all the chief priests
and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they
might put Him to death. And they brought Him bound and
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas who
betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting him
self, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests
and ancients, saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.
But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it. And
casting down the pieces of silver in the temple he departed:
and went and hanged himself with an halter. But the chief
priests having taken the pieces of silver, said : It is not lawful
to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood.
And after they had consulted together, they bought with them
the potter's field to be a bury ing- place for strangers. For this
cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood,
even to this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by
174 PALM SUNDAY.
Jeremias the prophet, -saying : And they took the thirty pieces
of silver, the price of Him that was prized, Whom they prized
of the children of Israel: and they gave them unto the potter's
field, as the Lord appointed to me. And Jesus stood before the
governor, and the governor asked Him, saying : Art Thou the
King of the Jews? Jesus saith to him : Thou sayest it. And
when He was accused by the chief priests and ancients, He
answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to Him : Dost not Thou
hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee? And
He answered him to never a word: so that the governor won
dered exceedingly. Now upon the solemn day the governor
was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they
would ; and he had then a notorious prisoner that was called
Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said :
Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas or Jesus that is
called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered
Him. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment his wife
sent to him, saying : Have thou nothing to do with that just
man ; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream be
cause of Him. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the
people that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away.
And the governor answering said to them : Whether will you
of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.
Pilate saith to them : What shall I do then with Jesus that is
called Christ? They say all: Let Him be crucified. The gov
ernor said to them: Why, what evil hath He done? But they
cried out the more, saying : Let Him be crucified. And Pilate
seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was
made : taking water, washed his hands before the people, say
ing : I am innocent of the blood of this just man ; look you to
it. And the whole people answering, said : His blood be upon
us and upon our children. Then he released to them Barabbas :
and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him unto them to be cruci
fied. Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the
hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band : and strip
ping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His
right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked
Him, saying: Hail King of the Jews. And spitting upon
Him, they took the reed and struck His head. And after
PALM SUNDAY.
175
they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him,
and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to
crucify Him. And going out they found a man of Gyrene,
named Simon: him they forced to take up His cross. And
they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is
the place of Calvary. And they gave Him wine to drink
mingled with gall. And when He had tasted, He would not
drink. And after they had crucified Him, they divided His
garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided My garments
among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots. And they
sat and watched Him. And they put over His head His cause,
written: THIS is JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were
crucified with Him two thieves: one on the right hand, and
one on the left. And they that passed by blasphemed Him,
wagging their heads, and saying : Yah, Thou that destroy est
the temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it : save Thy
own self: if Thou be the Son of God, come down from the
cross. In like manner also the chief priests with the scribes
176 PALM SUNDAY.
and ancients mocking, said : He saved others, Himself He can
not save : if He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down
from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God :
let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him : for He said : I
am the Son of God. And the self-same thing the thieves also,
that were crucified with Him, reproached Him with. Now
from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth,
until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamina sabacthaiii? that is,
My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? And some
that stood there and heard, said : This man calleth Elias. And
immediately one of them running took a sponge, and filled it
with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink.
And the others said : Let be, let us see whether Elias will come
to deliver Him. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was
rent in two from the top even to the bottom ; and the earth
quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened :
and many bodies of the saints that had slept, arose, and coming
out of the tombs after His resurrection, came into the holy city,
and appeared unto many. Now the centurion, and they that
were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and
the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed
this was the Son of God. And there were many women afar
off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him :
among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of
James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of
Arimathea, named Joseph ; who also himself was a disciple of
Jesus ; he went to Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then
Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. And
Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth ;
and laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out
in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the
monument and went his way. And there was there Mary Mag
dalene, and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.
And the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the
chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying : Sir,
we have remembered that that seducer said, while He was yet
alive : After three days I will rise again. Command therefore
HOLY WEEK— MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 177
the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day : lest perhaps
His disciples come and steal Him away, and say to the people :
He is risen from the dead : and the last error shall be worse
than the first. Pilate said to them : You have a guard : go
guard it as you know. And they departing, made the sepulchre
sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards.
1bol£ Weefc,
'TTTHY is this week called holy week?
* * Because during this week we celebrate the most im
portant mysteries of our religion with touching and holy cere
monies.
How should we spend this week?
According to the intention of the Church, by meditating on
the sufferings and death of Our Saviour, by fasting more strictly,
by praying often and devoutly, and leading a holy life.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, I thank Thee for all Thou hast done and suffered
for me. Oh, by Thy blood, give me grace to conquer my
passions, and never to betray Thee by any sin. Amen.
in tools Meefc.
Prayer.
KANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who fail
through our infirmity, in so many adversities may be
relieved by the passion of Thy Son, making intercession for us,
Who lives and reigns, etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias 1. 5-10.
In those days Isaias said : The Lord God hath opened my
ear, and I do not resist : I have not gone back. I have given
my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked
them : I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked
me, and spit upon me. The Lord God is my helper, therefore
am I not confounded : therefore have I set my face as a most
hard rock, and I know that I shall not be confounded. He is
near that justifieth me, who will contend with me? let us stand
together, who is my adversary? let him come near to me.
178 TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
Behold the Lord God is my helper : who is he that shall con
demn me? Lo, they shall all be destroyed as a garment, the moth
shall eat them up. Who is there among you that feareth the
Lord, that heareth the voice of His servant, that hath walked in
darkness, and hath no light? let him hope in the name of the
Lord, and lean upon his God.
GOSPEL. John xii. 1-9.
Six days before the Pasch Jesus came to Bethania, where
Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life. And they
made Him -a supper there : and Martha served, but Lazarus was
one of them that were at table with Him. Mary therefore took
a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and
anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair :
and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then
one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray
Him, said : Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred
pence and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because he
cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the
purse, carried the things that were put therein. Jesus therefore
said : Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of My
burial. For the poor you have always with you : but Me you
have not always. A great multitude therefore of the Jews knew
that He was there: and they came, not for Jesus' s sake only,
but that they might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the
dead.
Uuesfca^ in Ifools Meek*
Prayer.
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, grant us so to celebrate the
mysteries of Our Lord's passion that we may deserve to
obtain pardon. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jeremias xi. 18-20.
In those days Jeremias said : Thou, O Lord, hast showed me,
and I have known: then Thou sliowedst me their doings.
And I was as a meek lamb that is carried to be a victim : and
I knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying :
Let us put wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of
the living, and let his name be remembered no more. But Thou,
O Lord of sabaoth, Who judgest justly, and triest the reins and
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 179
the hearts, let me see Thy revenge on them : for to Thee have I
revealed my cause, O Lord my God.
Instead of the gospel the Church reads to-day :
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to St. Mark xiv. and xv.
At that time : The feast of the Pasch, and of the Azymes was
after two days : and the chief priests and the scribes sought how
they might by some wile lay hold on Him, and kill Him. But
they said : Not on the festival- day, lest there should be a tumult
among the people. And when He was in Bethania in the house
of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having
an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard : and breaking
the alabaster box she poured it out upon His head. Now there
were some that had indignation within themselves, and said:
Why was this waste of the ointment made? For this ointment
might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and
given to the poor. And they murmured against her. But
Jesus said: Let her alone, why do you molest her? She hath
wrought a good work upon Me. For the poor you have always
with you : and whensoever you will, you may do them good ;
but Me you have not always. What she had, she hath done :
she is come beforehand to anoint My body for the burial.
Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in
the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for
a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve,
went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. Who hearing
it were glad : and they promised him they would give him money.
And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him. Now
on the first day of the unleavened bread when they sacrificed
the Pasch, the disciples say to Him : Whither wilt Thou that we
go, and prepare for Thee to eat the Pasch? And He sendeth
two of His disciples, and saith to them : Go ye into the city ;
and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water,
follow him ; and whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master
of the house, The Master saith, Where is My refectory, where I
may eat the Pasch with My disciples? And he will show you a
large dining-room furnished ; and there prepare ye for us. And
His disciples went their way, and came into the city ; and they
found as He had told them, and they prepared the Pasch. And
180 TUESDAY Itf HOLY WEEK.
when evening was come, He cometh with the twelve. And
when they were at table and eating, Jesus saith : Amen I say to
you, one of you that eateth with Me shall betray Me. But they
began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one : Is it I ?
Who saith to them : One of the twelve, who dippeth with Me
his hand in the dish. And the Son of man indeed goeth, as it
is written of Him : but wo to that man by whom the Son of
man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had
not been born. And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread :
and blessing broke, and gave to them, and said : Take ye, this is
My body. And having taken the chalice, giving thanks He
gave it to them. And they all drank of it. And He said to
them : This is My blood of the New Testament, which shall be
shed for many. Amen I say to you, that I will drink no more
of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new
in the kingdom of God. And when they had said a hymn, they
went forth to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them :
You will all be scandalized in My regard this night ; for it is writ
ten, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed.
But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
But Peter saith to Him : Although all shall be scandalized in
Thee, yet not I. And Jesus saith to him : Amen I say to thee,
to-day even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt
deny Me thrice. But he spoke the more vehemently : Although
I should die together with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in
like manner also said they all. And they come to a farm called
Gethsemani. And He saith to His disciples: Sit you here,
while I pray. And He taketh Peter and James and John with
Him ; and He began to fear and to be heavy. And He saith to
them : My soul is sorrowful even unto death ; stay you here,
and watch. And when He was gone forward a little He fell
flat on the ground ; and He prayed that if it might be, the hour
might pass from Him : and He saith : Abba, Father, all things
are possible to Thee, remove this chalice from Me, but not what
I will, but what Thou wilt. And He cometh, and findeth them
sleeping. And He saith to Peter: Simon, sleepest thou?
couldst thou not watch one hour? Watch ye, and pray that
you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak. And going away again, He prayed,
saying the same words. And when he returned He found
TUESDAY
HOLY WEEK.
181
them again asleep (for their eyes were heavy) and they knew
not what to answer Him. And He cometh the third time,
and saith to them: Sleep ye now, and take your rest. It
is enough: the hour is come: behold the Son of man shall
be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Else up, let us go.
Behold, he that will betray Me, is at hand. And while He was
yet speaking, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, and with
him a great 'multitude with swords and staves, from the chief
priests and the scribes and the ancients. And he that betrayed
Him had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss,
that is He, lay hold on Him, and lead Him away carefully.
And when he was come, immediately going up to Him, he
saith : Hail, Eabbi : and he kissed Him. But they laid hands
on Him, and held Him. And one of them that stood by drawing
a sword, struck a servant of the chief priest, and cut off his ear.
And Jesus answering, said to them : Are you come out as to a
robber with swords and staves to apprehend Me? I was daily
with you in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on
Me. But that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. Then His dis-
182 TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
ciples leaving Him all fled away. And a certain young man
followed Him having a linen cloth cast about his naked body :
and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth,
fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high
priest: and all the priests and the scribes and the ancients
assembled together. And Peter followed Him afar off, even
into the court of the high priest : and he sat with the servants
at the fire, and warmed himself. And the chief priests and all
the council sought for evidence against Jesus that they might put
Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness
against Him, and their evidences were not agreeing. And some
rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: We heard Him
say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within
three days I will build another, not made with hands. And
their witness did not agree. And the high priest rising up in the
midst, asked Jesus, saying : Answerest Thou nothing to the things
that are laid to Thy charge by these men? But He held His
peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him,
and said to Him : Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed
God? And Jesus said to him : I am. And you shall see the
Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and
coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rending
his garments saith : What need we any farther witnesses? You
have heard the blasphemy. What think you ? Who all con
demned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on
Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto
Him : Prophesy : and the servants struck Him with the palms of
their hands. Now when Peter was in the court below, there
cometh one of the maid-servants of the high priest. And when
she had seen Peter warming himself, looking on him she saith :
Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying:
I neither know nor understand what thou sayest. And he went
forth before the court ; and the cock crew. And again a maid
servant seeing him, began to s&j to the standers-by : This is one
of them. But he denied again. And after awhile they that
stood by said again to Peter : Surely thou art one of them : for
thou art also a Galilean. But he began to curse and to swear,
saying : I know not this man of Whom you speak. And imme
diately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word
that Jesus had said unto him : Before the cock crow twice,
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
thou shalt thrice deny Me. And he began to weep. And
straightway in the morning the chief priests holding a consulta
tion with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council,
binding Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. And
Pilate asked Him: Art Thou the King of the Jews? But He
answering, saith to him : Thou sayest it. And the chief priests
accused Him in many things. And Pilate again asked Him,
saying: Answerest Thou nothing? behold in how many things
they accuse Thee. But Jesus still answered nothing: so that
Pilate wondered. Now on the festival-day he was wont to
release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they de
manded. And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in
prison with some seditious men, who in, the sedition had com
mitted murder. And when the multitude was come up, they
began to desire that he would do, as he had ever done unto them.
And Pilate answered them, and said : Will you that I release to
you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had
delivered Him up out of envy. But the chief priests moved the
people, that lie should rather release Barabbas to them. And
184 TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
Pilate again answering, saith to them : What will you then that
I do to the King of the Jews? But they again cried out:
Crucify Him. And Pilate saith to them : Why, what evil hath
He done? But they cried out the more: Crucify Him. And so
Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them
Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged Him,
to be crucified. And the soldiers led Him into the court of the
palace, and they call together the whole band : and they clothe
Him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it
upon Him. And they began to salute Him: Hail, King of the
Jews. And they struck His head with a reed : and they did spit
on Him. And bowing their knees, they adored Him. And
after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him,
and put His own garments on Him, and they led Him out to
crucify Him. And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian who
passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander
and of Rufus, to take up His cross. And they bring Him into
the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, the place
of Calvary. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with
myrrh : but He took it not. And crucifying Him, they divided
His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should
take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
And the inscription of His cause was written over, THE KING OF
THE JEWS. And with Him they crucify two thieves, the one
on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the Scrip
ture was fulfilled which saith : And with the wicked He was
reputed. And they that passed by, blasphemed Him, wagging
their heads, and saying : Yah, Thou that destroy est the temple
of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thyself,
coming down from the cross. In like manner also the chief
priests mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved
others, Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel
come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.
And they that were crucified with Him, reviled Him. And
when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the
whole earth until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus
cried out with aloud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani ?
Which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou
forsaken Me? And some of the standers-by hearing, said: Be
hold He calleth Elias. And one running and filling a sponge
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 185
with vinegar, and putting it upon a reed, gave Him to drink,
saying : Stay, let us see if Elias come to take Him down. And
Jesus having cried out with a loud voice gave up the ghost.
[Here all kneel.] And the veil of the temple was rent in two,
from the top to the bottom. And the centurion who stood over
against Him, seeing that crying out in this manner He had
i»'iven up the ghost, said: Indeed this man was the Son of God.
And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom
was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the Less and
of Joseph, and Salome: who also when He was in Galilee,
followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women
that came up with Him to Jerusalem.
And when evening was now come (because it was the Paras-
ceve, that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea,
a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom
of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body
of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead.
And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already
dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he
gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph buying tine linen and
taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid
Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he
rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre. ^
in 1bol£ Weefc.
Prayer.
RANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who are
continually afflicted through our excesses, may be de
livered by the passion of Thy only- begotten Son. Through the
same Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Jsaias Ixii. 11, 12; Ixiii. 1-7
Thus saith the Lord God : Tell the daughter of Siori Be
hold thy Saviour cometh : behold His reward is with Him, and
His work before Him. An 1 they shall call them, The holy peo
ple, the redeemed of the Lord. But thou shalt be called: A
city sought after, and not forsaken. Who is this that cometh
from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one
in His robe, walking in the greatness of His strength? I, that
186 WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
speak justice, and am a defender to save. Why then is thy ap
parel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the wine
press? I have trodden the wine- press alone, and of the gentile*,
there is not a man with Me : I have trampled on them in My
indignation, and have trodden them down in My wrath, and
their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained
all My apparel. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, the
year of My redemption is come. I looked about, and there was
none to help : I sought, and there was none to give aid : and
My own arm hath saved for Me, and My indignation itself hath
helped Me. And I have trodden down the peoples in My
wrath, and have made them drunk in My indignation, and have
brought down their strength to the earth. I will remember the
tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord for all the
things that the Lord our God hath bestowed upon us.
Instead of the gospel the Church reads to-day :
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to St. Luke xxii. and xxiii.
At that time: The feast of unleavened bread, which is called
the Pasch, was at hand. And the chief priests and the scribes
sought how they might put Jesus to death : but they feared the
people. And Satan entered into Judas who was surnamed
Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went and discoursed with
the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray Him
to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him
money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to be
tray Him in the absence of the multitude. And the day of the
unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the Pasch
should be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying: Go and
prepare for us the Pasch, that we rnay eat. But they said-
Where wilt Thou that we prepare? And He said to them:
Behold, as you go into the city, there shall meet you a man
carrying a pitcher of water: follow him into the house where he
entereth in : and you shall say to the goodman of the house :
The Master saith to thee: Where is the guest-chamber, where I
may eat the Pasch with My disciples? And he will show you a
large dining-room furnished: and there prepare. And they
going, found as He had said to them, and made ready the Pusch.
And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve
WEDNESDAY IN liOLY WEEK.
187
apostles with Him. And He said to them : With desire I have
desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer. For I say to
you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the
kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice He gave thanks,
and said: Take, and divide it among you. For I say to you,
that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of
God come. And taking bread, He gave thanks, and brake :
and gave to them, saying : This is My body which is given for
you. Do this for a commemoration of Me. In like manner the
chalice also, after He had supped, saying : This is the chalice,
the New Testament in My blood, which shall be shed for you.
But yet behold, the hand of him that betray eth Me is with Me
on the table. And the Son of man indeed goeth, according to
that which is determined : but yet wo to that man by whom He
shall be betrayed. And they began to inquire among themselves
which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was
also a strife amongst them, which of them should seem to be
greater. And He said to them : The kings of the gentiles lord
it over them : and they that have power over them, are called
beneficent. But you not BO : but he that is the greater among
188 WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
you, let him become as the younger : and he that is the leader,
as he that serveth. For which is greater, he that sitteth at
table, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at table? but I
am in the midst of you, as He that serveth : and you are they
who have continued with Me in My temptations : and I dispose
to you, as My Father hath disposed to Me, a kingdom: that
you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom : and may
sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the
Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have
you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee
that thy faith fail not : and thou being once converted, confirm
thy brethren. Who said to Him : Lord, I am ready to go with
Thee both into prison and to death. And He said : I say to
thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice
deniest that thou knowest Me. And He said to them : When I
sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want any
thing? But they said: Nothing. Then said He unto them:
But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a
scrip : and he that hath not, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword.
For I say to you, that this that is written, must yet be ful
filled in Me : And with the wicked was He reckoned. For the
things concerning Me have an end. But they said : Lord, be
hold here are two swords. And He said to them : It is enough.
And going out He went according to His custom to the Mount
of Olives. And His disciples also followed Him. And when
He was come to the place, He said to them : Pray, lest ye enter
into temptation. And He was withdrawn away from them a
stone's cast: and kneeling down He prayed: saying: Father, if
Thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me: but yet not My will,
but Thine be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from
heaven strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed
the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling
down upon the ground. And when He rose up from prayer,
and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sor
row. And He said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest
you enter into temptation. As He was yet speaking, behold a
multitude : and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before them, and drew near to Jesus for to kiss Him. And
Jesus said to him : Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with
a kiss? And they that were about Him, seeing what would
WEDNESDAY IN liOLY WEEK.
follow, said to Him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut
off his right ear. But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus
far. And when He had touched his ear, He healed him. And
Jesus said to the chief priests, and magistrates of the temple,
and the ancients that were come unto Him : Are you come out,
as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was
daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your
hands against Me : but this is your hour, and the power of
darkness. And apprehending Him, they led Him to the high
priest's house. But Peter followed afar off. And when they
had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sitting
about it, Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when a cer
tain servant maid had seen him sitting at the light, and had
earnestly beheld him, she said : This man also was with Him.
But he denied Him, saying: Woman, I know Him not. And
after a little while another seeing him, said: Thou also art
one of them. But Peter said : O man, I am not. And after
the space as it were of one hour, another certain man
affirmed, saying: Of a truth this man was also with Him:
190 WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
for he is also a Galilean. And Peter said : Man, I know not
what thou sayest. And immediately as he was yet speaking,
the cock crew. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And
Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as He had said : Be
fore the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter
going out wept bitterly. And the men that held Him, mocked
Him, and struck Him. And they blindfolded Him, and smote
His face. And they asked Him, saying: Prophesy, who is it
that struck Thee? And blaspheming, many other things they
said against Him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of
the people, and the chief priests, and scribes came together, and
they brought Him into their council, saying : If Thou be the
Christ, tell us. And He said to them : If I shall tell you, you
will not believe Me. And if I shall also ask you, you will not
answer Me, nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of man shall
be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said
they all : Art Thou then the Son of God? Who said : You say
that I am. And they said : What need we any farther testi
mony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.
And the whole multitude of them rising up, led Him to Pilate.
And they began to accuse Him, saying : We have found this
man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to
Cesar, and saying that He is Christ the King. And Pilate
asked Him, saying : Art Thou the King of the Jews? But He
answering, said: Thou sayest it. And Pilate said to the chief
priests and to the multitudes: I find no cause in this man. But
they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people,
teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this
place. But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of
Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod's
jurisdiction he sent Him away to Herod, who was also himself
at Jerusalem in those days. And Herod seeing Jesus was very
glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he
had heard many things of Him : and he hoped to see some sign
wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words.
But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the
scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his
army set Him at naught : and mocked Him, putting on Him a
white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and
Pilate were made friends that same day: for before they were
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 191
enemies one to another. And Pilate calling together the
chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them :
You have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth
the people, and behold I, having examined Him before you,
find no cause in this man in those things wherein you accuse
Him. No, for Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and be
hold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him. I will chastise
Him therefore, and release Him. Now of necessity he was to re
lease unto them one upon the feast-day. But the whole multi
tude together cried out, saying : Away with this man, and release
unto us Barabbas, who for a certain sedition made in the city,
and for a murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke
to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, say
ing: Crucify Him, crucify Him. And he said to them the third
time : Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of
death in Him : I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go.
But they were instant with loud voices requiring that He might
be crucified : and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sen
tence that it should be as they required. And he released unto
them him who for murder and sedition had been cast into
prison, whom they had desired : but Jesus he delivered up to
their will. And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one
Simon of Gyrene, coming from the country : and they laid the
cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed Him a
great multitude of people, and of women who bewailed and
lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them, said : Daughters of
Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for
your children. For behold the day shall come wherein they will
say : Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne,
and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin
to say to the mountains, Fall upon us : and to the hills, Cover
us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be
done in the dry? And there were also two other malefactors
led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come
to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there :
and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the
left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do. But they dividing His garments, cast lots.
And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them de
rided Him, saying: He saved others, let Him save Himself, ii
192 WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
He be Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked
Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying:
If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself. And there
was also a superscription written over Him in letters of Greek,
and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS is THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And one of these robbers who were hanged, blasphemed
Him, saying: If Thou be Christ, save Thyself, and us. But
the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost
thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our
deeds : but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus :
Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom.
And Jesus said to him : Amen I say to tliee, this day thou shalt
be with Me in paradise. And it was almost the sixth hour:
and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent
in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said : Father,
into Thy hands I commend My spirit. And saying this, He
gave up the ghost. [All kneel~\. Now the centurion seeing
what was done, glorified God, saying : Indeed this was a just man.
And all the multitude of them that were come together to that
sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their
breasts. And all His acquaintance, and the women that had
followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off beholding these things.
And behold there was a man named Joseph, who was a
counsellor, a good and a just man (the same had not consented
to their counsel and doings), of Arimathea, a city of Judea,
who also himself looked for the kingdom of God. This man
went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And taking
Him down, he wrapped Him in fine linen, and laid Him in a
sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man
had been laid.
INSTRUCTIONS ON ** TENEBR.®.'*
The prayers and chants sung by the choir on the evenings oi
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week are called
" Tenebrse. " The Church thereby expresses her grief over the
passion and death of Our Saviour, and over the sins which were
the cause thereof, in order to move the sinner to return to God.
HOLY THURSDAY, OR MAUNDY THURSDAY. 193
Why are these matins called " Tenebree "?
Because they are usually said in the evening, and because,
also, they are mournful, and call us to sorrow.
Why is this service held at night?
In memory: 1. Of the evening when Christ was by force
taken prisoner, like a murderer. 2. Of the darkness which
lasted three hours at His crucifixion. 3. Of the spiritual dark
ness, confusion, and grief which prevailed in the minds of His
disciples during Our Saviour's passion. 4. Of the darkness
which overspread mankind while Jesus was suffering for them.
What is meant by extinguishing, one after another, the
twelve lights on the triangular candlestick, and finally all the
rest?
The twelve lights signify the twelve apostles, and the extin
guishing of them is to represent how, one after another, they
deserted Jesus. The putting out of all the lights reminds us of
the darkness which prevailed upon the earth at the death of
Jesus, of the blindness of the Jews, and of the gradual extin
guishment of belief in Him.
What is the meaning of the last light which is hidden for
awhile, and then brought forth again when all is ended?
It signifies Christ, Whose body was buried in the grave, from
which He soon after arose by His own power, and thereby
showed Himself more clearly than before to be the Light of the
world.
What is signified by the noise made at the end of "Tene-
brse," while the last light is hidden?
It signifies the earthquake at the death of Jesus.
Ifools ttbursfcas, or /IDaunfcs TTbursfcas,
N this day the Church commemorates the institution of the
holy sacrifice of the Mass and of the Blessed Eucharist, or
the Sacrament of the Altar. The Introit of the Mass of the day
is as follows: " We ought to glory in the cross of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection,
by Whom we have been saved and delivered. May God have
mercy on us and bless us ; may He cause the light of His counte
nance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us."
194 HOLY THURSDAY, OR MAUNDY THURSDAY.
Prayer.
O God, from Whom Judas received the punishment of his
guilt, and the good thief the reward of his confession, grant us
the effect of Thy mercy, that as Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His
passion, gave to each different retribution, according to his
deserts, so He would take from us our old errors, and grant us
the grace of His resurrection. Who liveth and reigneth, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xi. 20-32.
Brethren : When you come together into one place, it is not
now to eat the Lord's supper. For every one taketh before his
own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry, and another is
drunk. What! have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or
despise ye the Church of God, and put them to shame that have
not? What shall I say to you? Do I praise you? In this I
praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also
I delivered unto you: that the Lord Jesus, the same night ill
which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke,
and said : Take ye, and eat : this is My body, which shall be
delivered for you : this do for the commemoration of Me. Tn
like manner, also, the chalice, after He had supped, saying:
This chalice is the New Testament in My blood : this do ye, as
often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as
often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall
show the death of the Lord, until He come. Therefore, whoso
ever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord un
worthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the
Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that
bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drink-
eth unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not
discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many
infirm and weak among you, and many sleep. But if we would
judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But whilst we are
judged, we are chastised by the Lord, that we be not con
demned with this world.
GOSPEL. John xiii. 1-15.
Before the festival-day of the Pasch, Jesus knowing that
His hour was come, that He should pass out of this world to the
Father : having loved His own who were in the world, He loved
HOLY THURSDAY, OR MAUNDY THURSDAY. 195
them unto the end. And when supper was done (the devil
having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of
Simon, to betray Him), knowing that the Father had given Him
all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and goeth
to God : He riseth from supper, and layeth aside His garments,
and having taken a towel, girded Himself. After that, He
putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the
disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was
girded. He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter
saith to Him : Lord, dost Thou wash my feet? Jesus answered,
and said to him : What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou
shalt know hereafter. Peter saith to Him : Thou shalt never
wash my feet. Jesus answered him : If I wash thee not, thou
shalt have no part with Me. Simon Peter saith to Him :
Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. Jesus
saith to him : He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his
feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.
For He knew who he was that would betray Him ; therefore
He said : You are not all clean. Then after He had washed
their feet and taken His garments, being sat down again, He
196 GOOD FRIDAY.
said to them: Know you what I have done to you? You call
Me Master, and Lord ; and you say well, for so I am. If then
I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you
also ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an
example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.
Why did Jesus wash His disciples' feet?
To show His humility and love, and to teach them how
pure they should be in approaching the Holy Sacrament of the
Altar. Hence arose the pious custom that spiritual superiors and
temporal rulers should on this day wash the feet of some of their
subjects, usually of twelve poor persons, and afterwards serve
them at table, or at least make them presents.
Why is it that only one priest in each church says Mass to-day,
while the rest go to communion ; and why is the Blessed Sacra
ment carried to the repository?
To imitate the example of Jesus Christ, Who on this day
gave to His apostles His flesh to eat and His blood to drink.
In like manner, all should to-day receive communion from one.
The priests appear to-day in their stoles, the emblem of the
spiritual dignity and power which were on this day given to the
apostles, and through them to their successors. The removal of
the Most Holy Sacrament to the repository signifies Jesus' s going
to Mount Olivet, where His Godhead concealed itself.
Why is it that the bells are not rung until Saturday, but
pieces of wood used instead; and why are the altars denuded?
So that the Church may express her deep grief for the
sufferings and death of Jesus, and remind us to mourn in silence,
and in a spiritual manner to die to the world and to self; she
also further indicates thereby the silence of the apostles, who
out of fear at this time were dumb. The removal of decorations
from the altars signifies how Jesus, through His passion, lost
His form and beauty, and was stripped of His garments, on
which account the twenty-first psalm, in which all this is pre
dicted, is said while the altars are denuded. It is also a call to
sorrow and penance.
-TTTHAT does the Church commemorate on this day?
VV The death of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the
Father, and the Saviour of the world, Who on this day was
GOOD FRIDAY. 197
scourged, crowned with thorns, and most cruelly crucified be
tween two thieves; through which bitter and ignominious
passion and death He accomplished the redemption of man
kind.
LESSON. Exodus xii. 1-11.
In those days : The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land
of Egypt : This month shall be to you the beginning of months :
it shall be the first in the months of the year. Speak ye to the
whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them : On
the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by their
families and houses. But if the number be less than may suffice
to eat the lamb, he shall take unto him his neighbor that joineth
to his house, according to the number of souls which may be
enough to eat the lamb. And it shall be a lamb without blemish,
a male, of one year: according to which rite also you shall
take a kid. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of
this month : and the whole multitude of the children of Israel
shall sacrifice it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood
thereof, and put it upon both the side posts, and on the upper
door-posts of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they
shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and unleavened
bread with wild lettuce. You shall not eat thereof anything raw,
nor boiled in water, but only roasted at the fire : you shall eat
the head with the feet and entrails thereof. Neither shall
there remain anything of it until morning. If there be anything
left, you shall burn it with fire. And thus you shall eat it : you
shall gird your reins, and you shall have shoes on your feet,
holding staves in your hands, and you shall eat in haste: for it is
the Phase (that is the Passage) of the Lord.
After this is read :
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to St. John xviii. and xix.
At that time Jesus went forth with His disciples over the
brook Cedron, where there was a garden into which He entered
with His disciples. And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew
the place: because Jesus had often resorted thither together
198 GOOD FRIDAY.
with His disciples. Judas therefore having received a band of
soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees,
cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus
therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went
forth and said to them : Whom seek ye? They answered Him:
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am He. And Judas
also who betrayed Him, stood with Him. As soon therefore as
He had said to them: I am He: they went backward, and fell to
the ground. Again therefore He asked them: Whom seek ye?
And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered : I have told
you, that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their
way. That the word might be fulfilled which He said : Of
them whom Thou hast given Me I have not lost any one. Then
Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of
the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the
servant was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter : Put up thy
sword into the scabbard. The chalice which My Father hath given
Me, shall I not drink it? Then the band, and the tribune, and
the servants of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him : and they
led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas,
who was the high priest of that year. Now Caiphas was he who
had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that
one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed
Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known
to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the
high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. The other
disciple therefore who was known to the high priest, went out,
and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter. The maid
therefore that was portress, saith to Peter: Art not thou also one
of this man's disciples? He saith: I am not. Now the ser
vants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold,
and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also stand
ing, and warming himself. The high priest therefore asked
Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered
him : I have spoken openly to the world : I have always taught
in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews re
sort : and in secret I have spoken nothing. Why askest Thou
Me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them:
behold they know what things I have said. And when He
had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave
GOOD FRIDAY.
199
Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest Thou the high priest so?
Jesus answered him : If I have spoken evil, give testimony of
the evil: but if well, why strikest thou Me? And Annas
sent Him bound to Caiphas the high priest. And Simon
Peter was standing and warming himself. They said there
fore to him: Art not thou also one of His disciples? He
denied it, and said: I am not One of the servants of the
high priest, a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off, saith to
him: Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? Again
therefore Peter denied, and immediately the cock crew. Then
they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor's hall. And it
was morning: and they went not into the hall, that they might
not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch. Pilate there
fore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you
against this man? They answered and said to him : If He were
not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.
Pilate therefore said to them : Take Him you, and judge Him
according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him : It is
not lawful for us to put any man to death. That the word of
Jesus might be fulfilled which He said signifying what death
200 GOOD FRIDAY.
He should die. Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and
called Jesus, and said to Him: Art Thou the king of the Jews?
Jesus answered : Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others
told it Thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy
own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me.
What hast Thou done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not
of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants
would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the
Jews : but now My kingdom is not from hence. Pilate there
fore said to Him: Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered:
Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for
this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the
truth. Every one that is of the truth, hearetli My voice.
Pilate said to Him : What is truth ? And when he had said
this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them : I find
DO cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release
one unto you at the pasch : will you therefore that I release
unto you the king of the Jews? Then cried they all again,
saying : Not this man, but Bar abbas. Now Bar abbas was a
robber.
Then, therefore, Pilate took JesuB, and scourged Him. And
the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon His head :
and they put on Him a purple garment, and they came to Him,
and said : Hail, king of the Jews ! And they gave Him blows.
Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith to them : Behold
I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no
cause in Him. Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown
of thorns and the purple garment. And he saith to them : Be
hold the man. When the chief priests, therefore, and the ser
vants had seen Him, they cried out, saying : Crucify Him, cru
cify Him. Pilate saith to them : Take Him you, and crucify
Him ; for I find no cause in Him. The Jews answered him :
We have a law ; and according to the law He ought to die, be
cause He made Himself the Son of God. When Pilate there
fore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he en
tered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art
Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said
to Him: Speakest Thou not to me? knowest Thou not that I
have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?
Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against Me,
GOOD FRIDAY.
201
unless it were given thee from above. Therefore lie that
hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin. And from
thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried
out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's
friend. For whosoever maketii himself a king, speaketh against
Caesar. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought
Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in the place that
is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was
the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith
to the Jews : Behold your king. But they cried out : Away
with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them :
Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered : We
have no king but Caesar. Then, therefore, he delivered Him
to them for to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him
forth. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place
which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they
crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, and
Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it
upon the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the
202 GOOD FEIDAT.
king of the Jews. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did
read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to
the city : and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.
Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate : Write not,
The king of the Jews ; but that He said, I am the king of the
Jews. Pilate answered : What I have written, I have written.
The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Him, took His
garments (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part),
and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven
from the top throughout. They said then one to another : Let
us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that
the Scripture might be fulfilled saying: They have parted My
garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots.
And the soldiers indeed did these things. Now there stood by
the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary
of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had
seen His mother, and the disciple standing, whom He loved,
He saith to His mother : Woman ! behold thy son. After that,
He saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that
hour the disciple took her to his own. Afterwards Jesus know
ing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set
there full of vinegar. And they putting a sponge full of vine
gar, about hyssop, put it to His mouth. Jesus therefore, when
He had taken the vinegar, said : It is consummated. And
bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. [Here all kneel, and
pause a little, to meditate on the redemption of mankind. ~\
Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the
bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for
that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs
might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The
soldiers, therefore, came : and they broke the legs of the first,
and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they
were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead,
they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a
spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood
and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his
testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that
you also may believe. For these things were done that the
Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of
GOOD FRIDAY.
203
Frni. And again another Scripture saith: They shall look on
Him Whom they pierced. And after these things, Joseph
Of Anmathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly
lor fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take
away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came
therefore and took away the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus
also came, he who at the first came to Jesus by night, bringing
a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound
weight. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bonnd
•t in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is
to bury. Now there was in the place where He was crucified
a garden: and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man
yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve
of the Jews, they laid Jesus; because the sepulchre was nigh
at hand.
«, , PaSS!°n 1S finislled> tlie pHest prays first: i, for
the Church; 2, for the pope; 8, for the bishops, priests, dea
cons and the body of the faithful; 4, for the civil rulers
the catechumens; 5, for preservation from famine and
204 GOOD FRIDAY.
sickness; 6, for heretics and schismatics; 7, for Jews and
heathen.
After the prayers the priest, from the epistle side of the
altar, extends towards the people the veiled crucifix, uncovered
at the top, and sings with a loud voice, ' ' Behold the wood of
the cross, whereon hung the Saviour of the world. ' ' This ele
vation of the crucifix refers to Jesus, Who delivers us from
everlasting death. After the response of the choir the priest
advances to the corner of the altar, uncovers the right arm of
the crucifix, and sings in a higher tone than before, ' 4 Behold
the wood of the cross." The choir again answers. Then at
the middle of the altar he uncovers the whole crucifix, and,
elevating it, sings in a still higher tone, ' c Behold the wood
of the cross," to which the answer is given as at first. The
covering of the crucifix signifies that the crucified Saviour
was at first unknown and despised by the world ; the gradual
uncovering of it represents the gradual propagation of the
knowledge and adoration of Jesus among mankind.
The uncovered crucifix is then laid upon a cushion in front
of the altar, and the priest puts off his shoes and proceeds to
kiss the cross, kneeling three times to remind the faithful that
Christ crucified, the Fountain of life, the Centre of the Church,
is in her midst, and will remain with her to the end of time.
When the adoration is ended, the cross is replaced on the
middle of the altar, the candles are lighted, and the Blessed
Sacrament is brought in procession from the place where it was
deposited the day before.
There is no Mass said to-day. For there is no consecration
either of bread or wine, but the priest receives one of the hosts
consecrated the day before.
Why is there no Mass said ?
Because to-day the Church directs her attention exclusively
to the bloody sacrifice.
During the day do for the love of Jesus all the good you
can ; for example, to the poor, to the sick, to prisoners, to un
fortunate but worthy debtors, make the Way of the Cross, visit
the holy sepulchre, and meditate upon the passion of Christ.
The passion of Christ gives us unusual strength in combat
with temptation. On this point St. Augustine says, "In all
my adversities I have not found any remedies so powerful as
HOLY SATURDAY 205
the passion and wounds of Jesus. In them I sleep securely,
and rest without fear. ' '
To meditate rightly on the passion of Christ consider what
Jesus suffered from the Jews, the gentiles, and even His own
disciples, who all forsook Him. Then earnestly reflect that
He, the Son of God, holiness and innocence itself, suffered not
for His own sake, but to deliver mankind from sin, death, and
hell, to free them of guilt and punishment, and to convert them
from being children of the devil to be children of God. He
came into the world, suffered, and died that we might have life.
The man who seriously ponders these things must have a
heart of stone if he be not moved to hatred of sin and to love
of Jesus.
But this is not the perfect fruit of meditation on the passion
of Jesus. By contemplating His passion we ought to become
like Him.
As often, therefore, as you think on the passion of Christ,
whether in making the Stations of the Cross, or in reciting the
Rosary, or before an image of the suffering Redeemer, endeavor
not only to have pity for His sufferings, not only to give Him
assurance of your love, but also to impress upon your heart the
virtues practised by Him in His passion, and to imitate them.
Prayer.
C\ GOD ! Who makest this most sacred night illustrious by the
^^^ glory of the resurrection of Our Lord, preserve in the
new offspring of Thy family the spirit of adoption which Thou
hast given them ; that, being renewed in body and soul, they
may serve Thee with purity of heart, through the same Lord
Jesus Christ ... in the unity of the same Holy Ghost.
EPISTLE. Colons, iii. 1-4.
Brethren : If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that
are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God:
mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon
the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God. When Christ shall appear, Who is your life, then you
also shall appear with Him in glory.
206 HOLY SATURDAY.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxviii. 1-7.
In the end of the Sabbath, when it began to dawn towards
the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other
Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great
earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven :
and coining, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his
countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And
for fear of him the guards were struck with terror, and became
as dead men. And the angel answering, said to the women:
Fear not you : for I know that you seek Jesus Who was cruci
fied. He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, and
see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell
ye His disciples that He is risen : and behold He will go before
you into Galilee : there you shall see Him. Lo, I have fore
told it to you.
Why is this day called Holy Saturday?
Because Jesus Christ, the Holy of holies, on this day rested
in the grave, and because on this day the new fire and the bap
tismal water are blessed.
What is the new fire?
It is the fire caught from the sparks of a flint, and then
blessed by the priest, from which afterwards the candles and
lamps in the church are lighted.
Why is this done, and what does it signify?
The fire is first caught from a flint to indicate that Christ,
the light of the world, though rejected by the Jews, is the real
corner-stone, and, though seemingly extinguished in the grave,
arose gloriously and sheds the beams of His blessed light on the
world.
What is signified by the three candles, or triple candlestick?
The Most Holy Trinity, one in the divine nature, but three
in person.
Why are all the candles of the church lighted from the triple
candle?
To signify that all enlightening comes from the Most Holy
Trinity.
What does the paschal or Easter candle signify ?
It represents Jesus Christ, Who died, but rose again, and
now lives forever, the light of the world, giving light to all, and
HOLY SATURDAY.
207
delivering us from the darkness of sin. The wax signifies His
body, the wick His soul, the light His divinity.
The five holes in the Easter candle, in the form of a cross,
represent the five holy wounds which Christ retains for our con
solation. The five grains of incense inserted therein signify the
spices used in embalming the corpse of Our Saviour.
What is the signification of the ceremonies used in blessing
the baptismal water?
They signify the different effects of Baptism.
Why does the priest pour out the baptismal water towards
each of the four quarters of the globe?
To indicate that as the four streams went forth from paradise
to water the earth, so also, according to the command of Christ,
shall the stream of grace, through holy Baptism, flow to all parts
of the world for the washing away of sin.
What does it mean when the priest breathes three times upon
the water?
The breathing upon the water denotes the communication of
the Holy Ghost.
208 EASTER SUNDAY.
What does it mean when the priest dips the Easter candle
thrice into the baptismal water?
The immersion and withdrawal of the candle from the water
denote that it is sanctified by Christ to be a means through which
the baptized are drawn out of the abyss of sin.
What is the meaning of the mixing of the holy oils with the
consecrated water?
The holy oils are mixed with the consecrated water partly
to indicate the union of Christ with His people, and partly also
to denote that the grace of the Holy Ghost, of which the holy
oil and chrism are figures, together with faith, hope, and charity,
is infused into the heart of the catechumen.
~No Christian should forget to-day to revisit the holy sepulchre,
to thank Jesus for His passion and death, and to venerate the
sorrowful Mother Mary.
Easter
is the feast of Easter?
The celebration of the day on which Jesus Christ, ac
cording to the predictions both of Himself and the prophets, by
His almighty power, reunited His body and soul, and arose alive
from the grave.
Why is this feast sometimes called Pasch or Passover f
From the Latin Pascha, and the Hebrew Phase, mean
ing "the passing over," because the destroyer of the first
born in Egypt passed over the houses of the Israelites who had
sprinkled the transom and posts of the door with the blood of
the paschal lamb ; and because the Jews were in that same night
delivered from bondage, passing over through the Red Sea into
the land of promise. Now we Christians are by the death and
resurrection of Christ redeemed and passed over to the freedom
of the children of God, so we call the day of His resurrection
Pasch or Passover.
How should we observe the feast of Easter?
In such manner as to confirm our faith in Jesus Christ and
in His Church, and to pass over from the death of sin to the
new life of grace.
EASTER SUNDAY.
209
What is the meaning of ' ' Alleluia, ' ' so often repeated at
Easter -time?
"Alleluia" means "Praise God."
In the Introit of the Mass of the day the Church introduces
Jesus Christ as risen, addressing His heavenly Father as fol
lows : "I rose up and am still with Thee, alleluia ; Thou hast
laid Thy hand upon Me, alleluia. Lord, Thou hast proved Me,
and know Me; Thou hast known My sitting down and My
rising up." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who this day didst open to us the approach to eter
nity by Thy only Son victorious over death, prosper by Thy
grace our vows, which Thou dost anticipate by Thy inspirations.
Through the same Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. v. 7, 8.
Brethren: Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new
paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ, our Pasch, is sacri
ficed. Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with
210 EASTER SUNDAY.
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.
Explanation.
The Apostle selected the leaven as a type of the moral de
pravity from which the Christian community and every indi
vidual Christian should be free. Let us, therefore, purge out
the old leaven of sin by true penance, that we may receive our
Paschal Lamb, Jesus, in the Most Holy Eucharist with a pure
heart.
GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 1-7.
At that time: Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of
James and Salome bought sweet spices, that coming they might
anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of
the week, they came to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen.
And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone
from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the
stone rolled back : for it was very great. And entering into
the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed with a white robe : and they were astonished. Who
saith to them : Be not affrighted : you seek Jesus of Nazareth,
Who was crucified : He is risen, He is not here : behold the
place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter
that He goeth before you into Galilee : there you shall see Him,
as He told you.
Why did the holy women desire to anoint the body of Jesus
with sweet spices?
Out of love for Jesus. This love God rewarded by sending
to them an angel, who rolled back the great stone from before
the mouth of the sepulchre, comforted them, and convinced
them that Christ was really risen from the dead. From this we
learn that God always consoles those who seek Him. The
angel sent the holy women to the disciples to console them for
Christ's death, and in order that they might make known His
resurrection to the world. St. Peter was specially named not
only because he was the head of the apostles, but because he was
sadder and more dispirited than the others on account of his
denial of Our Saviour.
How did Our Saviour prove that He was really risen from
the dead?
EASTBE MONDAY. 211
By showing Himself first to the holy women, then to His
disciples, and finally to five hundred persons at once. His dis
ciples not only saw Him, but ate and drank with Him, not once
only, but repeatedly, and for forty days.
It was through combat and inexpressible sufferings that Our
Saviour gained victory. So also with us. Only by labor, com
bat, and sufferings shall we win the crown of eternal life;
though redeemed by Christ from the servitude of Satan and sin,
we shall not be able to enter the kingdom of Christ unless, after
His example and by His grace, we fight till the end against the
flesh, the devil, and the world ; for only he that perseveres to
the end shall receive the crown (n. Tim. ii. 5).
Easter /iDonfcap.
T~N the Introit of the Mass of this day the Church brings before
our eyes the entrance of the Israelites into the promised
land, which is a type of the kingdom of heaven, under Josue,
who is a type of Christ.
212 EASTER MONDAY.
"The Lord hath brought you into a land flowing with milk
and honey, alleluia : and that the law of the Lord may be ever
in your mouth, alleluia, alleluia. Give glory to the Lord and
call upon His name, declare His deeds among the gentiles."
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast bestowed remedies on the world in the
paschal solemnities, grant to Thy people heavenly gifts, we be
seech Thee, that they may both deserve to obtain perfect liberty,
and arrive at life everlasting. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE. Acts x. 37-43.
In those days: Peter standing in the midst of the people,
said : Men, brethren, you know the word which hath been pub
lished through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the
baptism which John preached, Jesus of Nazareth: how God
anointed Him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, Who went
about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all
things that He did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem,
Whom they killed, hanging Him upon a tree. Him God raised
up the third day, and gave Him to be made manifest, not to all
the people, but to witnesses pre-ordained by God, even to us,
who did eat and drink with Him after He arose again from the
dead: and He commanded us to preach to the people, and to
testify that it is He Who was appointed by God to be judge of
the living and of the dead. To Him all the prophets give tes
timony, that by His name all receive remission of sins, who
believe in Him.
Explanation.
Through Jesus sent from God, and through Him alone,
forgiveness of sins and salvation are promised to all who truly
and firmly believe in Him, and show their belief by deeds.
Have such a lively faith, and thou shalt receive forgiveness of
sins and life everlasting.
GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 13-35.
At that time : two of the disciples of Jesus went the same day
to a town, which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named
EASTER MONDAY.
213
Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which
had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and
reasoned with themselves, Jesus Himself also drawing near went
with them. But their eyes were held that they should not know
Him. And He said to them : What are these discourses that
you hold one with another as you walk, and are sad? And the
one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to Him :
Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known the
things that have been done there in these days? To whom He
said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Naz
areth, Who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before
God and all the people, and how our chief priests and princes
delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him.
But we hoped that it was He that should have redeemed Israel :
and now besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things
were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company,
affrighted us, who before it was light were at the sepulchre.
And not finding His body, came, saying that they had also seen
a vision of angels, who say that He is alive. And some of our
214 EASTER TUESDAY.
people went to the sepulchre : and found it so as the women
had said, but Him they found not. Then He said to them : O
foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the
prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these
things, and so to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses
and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures
the things that were concerning Him. And they drew nigh to the
town whither they were going : and He made as though He would
go farther. But they constrained Him, saying : Stay with us,
because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And
He went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst He was at
table with them, He took bread, and blessed, and broke, and
gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him :
and He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to the
other : Was not our heart burning within us, whilst He spoke in
the wray, and opened to us the Scriptures? And rising up the same
hour they went back to Jerusalem : and they found the eleven
gathered together, and those that were with them, saying, The
Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they
told what things were done in the way : and how they knew
Him in the breaking of bread.
Why did Jesus appear as a stranger to the two disciples?
He appeared to them as a stranger, says St. Gregory, be
cause He meant to deal with them according to their dispositions,
and according to the firmness of their faith. They seemed not
to have believed in Him as the Son of God, but to have expected
a hero or prince who should deliver them from their subjection
to the Romans. Thus Christ was, indeed, yet a stranger in their
hearts, and chose to appear to them as such, to free those who
loved Him from their false notions, to convince them of the ne
cessity of His passion, and to reveal Himself to them, as soon as
their understandings should be enlightened, and their hearts filled
with desire. Thus God orders the disposal of His graces accord
ing to our dispositions ; according to our faith and trust ; accord
ing to our love and fidelity.
lEaster Uuesfcap*
To praise and thank God for the mystery of redemption, the
Church sings at the Introit of the Mass: " He hath given
EASTER TUESDAY. 215
them the water of wisdom to drink, alleluia. He shall be made
strong in them, and shall not be moved, alleluia. And He shall
exalt them forever, alleluia, alleluia (Ecclus. xv. 3). Give glory
to the Lord, and call upon His name, declare His deeds among
the Gentiles" (Ps. civ. 1). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who dost ever multiply thy Church by a new prog
eny, grant to Thy servants that they may retain in their lives
the mystery which they have received by faith. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts xiii. 26-33.
In those days, Paul rising up, and with his hand bespeaking
silence, said: Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham,
and whosoever among you fear God, to you the word of this
salvation is sent. For they that inhabited Jerusalem, and the
rulers thereof, not knowing Jesus, nor the voices of the prophets,
which are read every Sabbath, judging Him have fulfilled them.'
And finding no cause of death in Him, they desired of Pilate
that they might kill Him. And when they had fulfilled all
things that were written of Him, taking Him down from the tree
they laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him up from the
dead the third day : Who was seen for many days by them, who
came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this pres
ent are His witnesses to the people. And we declare unto you
that the promise which was made to our fathers, this same God
hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus Christ our Lord.
Explanation.
Like St. Peter, so St. Paul founds the truth of his doctrine
upon the resurrection of Jesus, because Christ had given this as
the special proof of the truth of His doctrine. Had He not
risen from the dead He would not have been the Son of God,
and could not have redeemed mankind. The resurrection
is, therefore, the foundation of our belief. On that account
He allowed His disciples for a while to doubt, and only to be
lieve after He had given them irrefragable proofs of His resur
rection by repeatedly appearing to them; that by their doubts
and cautious unbelief the wounds of unbelief in our hearts
216 EASTEK TUESDAY.
might be healed, and we might know how true is the resurrec
tion, and how firmly founded our faith.
GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 36-47.
At that time: Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and
saith to them : Peace be to you : it is I, fear not. But they
being troubled and frighted, supposed that they saw a spirit.
And He said to them : Why are you troubled, and why do
thoughts arise in your hearts? See My hands and feet, that it
is I Myself ; handle, and see : for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones, as you see Me to have. And when He had said this, He
showed them His hands and feet. But while they yet believed
not, and wondered for joy, He said :. Have you here anything
to eat? And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish and a
honeycomb. And when He had eaten before them, taking the
remains He gave to them. And He said to them : These are the
words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all
things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of
Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.
Then He opened their understanding, that they might under
stand the Scriptures. And He said to them : Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the
dead the third day: and that penance and remission of sins
should be preached in His name unto all nations.
Why does Jesus greet His disciples with the words, ' ' Peace
be to you" ?
1 . Because He came to restore to men that peace with God,
with themselves, with their neighbor, which sin had destroyed.
2. Because peace is a mark of the children of God, as discord
is of sinners. 3. Because peace is the greatest of all goods.
Therefore it is that He will have His apostles, after His exam
ple, give the greeting of peace on entering a house. Finally,
4. Because He desired to encourage His disciples to confidence
by His friendliness.
Why did Our Saviour retain the marks of His wounds after
His resurrection?
1. To show that it was the same body which had been
wounded during His passion, and to show that He was really
risen from the dead. 2. To teach us that we too shall, in like
EASTER TUESDAY. 217
manner, rise with our bodies. 3. To make known to us the
greatness of His love, through which He has graven us, as it
were, on His hands and feet, and in His heart (Isaias xlix. 16).
4. To impart to us confidence in His endless mercy, and to en
courage us to combat against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
5. To prepare a place of refuge, and an inexhaustible fountain
of consolation for all the miserable, afflicted, and tempted. 6.
To terrify the impenitent, whom, on the day of judgment, He
will show how much He has suffered for them, and that they
have been the cause of their own destruction. Oh, let us en
deavor to think often on the wounds of Jesus, that we may
thereby be encouraged to lead pious lives acceptable to God.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, grant that the precious blood which flowed from
Thy wounds for me and all sinners may not be lost.
INSTRUCTION ON WHAT WE OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING THE
HOLY SCRIPTURES.
" He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scrip
tures." — Luke xxiv. 45.
Is it free to every one to read and explain Holy Scripture
according to his own opinion?
No; that must be done with submission and conformity to
the teaching of the Church. Questions of faith cannot be set
tled by appealing to the Holy Scriptures alone, since they them
selves are liable to be misunderstood. For this reason the
Church has done wisely in making the printing, reading, and
explaining of Holy Scripture depend upon the permission of
lawful spiritual superiors.
What, therefore, must one do who desires to read the Holy
Scriptures?
He must read them, 1. Only with the permission of the
ecclesiastical superiors. 2. With the subjection of his own
opinion to the decisions of the Church, and the interpretation of
the holy fathers. 3. With suitable preparation, by prayer and
fasting, as St. Thomas of Aquin did, and with devotion and
care.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER — LOW SUNDAY.
Jfirst Sunfcas after JSaster, Gailefc * Dominica in
Blbte," or OLow Suntrns.
-TTTHY is this Sunday called u Dominica in Albis," (White
W Sunday)?
Because, in the earlier times, those who had been baptized
on Holy Saturday on this day laid aside the white garments
which they had then received, and put on their necks an ' * Ag
nus Dei," made of white wax, and blessed by the Pope, to re
mind them continually that they were bound to preserve that
innocence unstained. The Church therefore sings, at the Introit
of the Mass, " As new-born babes, alleluia, desire the rational
milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia (1 Pet. ii. 2). Re
joice to God our helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob.
Glory be to the Father," etc. (Ps. Ixxx. 1).
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have
performed the paschal solemnities, may, by Thy grace, preserve
them in our life and conduct. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE, i. John v. 4-10.
Dearly Beloved: Whatsoever is born of God overcometh
the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world,
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came
by water and blood, Jesus Christ : not by water only, but by
water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that
Christ is the truth. And there are three Who give testimony in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these
three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth :
the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three are one.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is
greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater,
because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the
Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself.
Explanation.
By loving faith in Jesus as the Son of God, we can surely
overcome the world, because that faith shows us in God, our
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER— LOW SUNDAY. 219
Father; in the world to come, our true country; in Jesus, our
example ; teaching us to love God above all things, to disregard
the world, and worldly goods, and to strive for the eternal.
That Jesus is the Son of God, St. John shows: 1. By the
threefold testimony on earth, of the water at the baptism in
Jordan, of the blood at the death on the cross, of the spirit in
the miraculous effects wrought in those that believed. 2. By
the threefold testimony from heaven of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, I believe in Thee, as the Son of the living God !
Grant that through this faith I may victoriously combat the flesh,
the world, the devil, and every inclination to evil, and obtain
everlasting life.
GOSPEL. John xx. 19-31.
At that time : When it was late that same day, the first of
the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were
gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the
midst, and said to them : Peace be to you. And when He had said
this, He showed them His hands, and His side. The disciples
therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore
to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I
also send you. When He had said this, He breathed on them ;
and He said to them : Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins
^you shall forgive, they are forgiven them : and whose sins you
shall retain, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the twelve,
who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him : We have seen the
Lord. But he said to them : Except I shall see in His hands
the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the
nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And
after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas
with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in
the midst, and said : Peace be to you. Then He saith to Thomas :
Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands ; and bring hither
thy hand, and put it into My side : and be not faithless but be
lieving. Thomas answered, and said to Him : My Lord and
my God. Jesus saith to him : Because thou hast seen Me,
220 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER — LOW SUNDAY.
Thomas, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen,
and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight
of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these
are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son
of God : and that believing, you may have life in His name.
Why does Jesus so often say, " Peace be to you " f
To signify that He had restored peace between God and
man; to show how men might know His disciples; and how
necessary to salvation the preservation of peace is.
Why did God permit Thomas to disbelieve the appearance
of Christ to the other disciples?
That we might thereby be strengthened in faith, for as
Christ took away all doubt from Thomas, by appearing again,
the resurrection of Christ by that means becomes, as St. Gregory
says, so much the more credible and certain.
What is it to believe in God?
To receive as immovably certain what God has revealed to
us, although we cannot understand it.
What must we, therefore, believe?
All that God has revealed.
Why must we believe all this?
Because God, the infallible truth, has revealed it. This
belief is as necessary to salvation as it is reasonable in itself.
How can we certainly know what God has or has not revealed,
and which this one true faith is?
Through His Church, which is guided by the Holy Ghost
to all truth, and in which Jesus Christ dwells till the end of
time.
How can we know the Church of Christ?
By this, that, like the truth, she is one, holy, apostolic, and
catholic.
Which is this true Church of Christ?
The Roman Catholic, since she alone possesses the above-
mentioned marks of the true Church. She alone has preserved
unity in faith and in the holy sacraments, and is subordinate to
one visible head, the Pope. She alone can trace her derivation
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER — LOW SUNDAY. 221
from the apostles to the present day, and can demonstrate this
origin as well by her doctrine, as by the succession of her popes
and bishops. She alone has all the means of salvation, and she
alone has produced saints. Finally, she alone embraces all ages,
and shines, as St. Augustine says, from one end of the world to
the other, in the splendor of one and the same faith, inviting all
to her bosom, to bring them to Jesus.
What answer should a Catholic make to objections against
the Mass, purgatory, and such like?
He should say, I believe these and the like matters of faith,
because God, Who is Truth, has revealed them : I believe that
He has thus revealed them, because the Roman Catholic Church,
which teaches them to me, has all the marks of the true Church
of Christ, guided by God, and cannot therefore deceive me.
Is it sufficient for salvation to have the true faith, and to
belong to the true Church?
No; we must live according to that faith, — that is, we must
observe what it commands, avoid what it forbids, and often,
particularly in temptation, make an act of faith.
222 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
Seconb SunDas after Easter*
THE Church continues to praise God for the resurrection of
Jesus, and the graces thereby procured for us, and sings
accordingly, at the Introit of the Mass : ' ' The earth is full of
the mercy of the Lord, alleluia. By the word of the Lord the
heavens were established, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord,
O ye just; praise becometh the upright." Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who by the humility of Thy Son hast raised up a
fallen world, grant to Thy faithful everlasting joy, that those
whom Thou hast delivered from the evils of eternal death Thou
mayest make to enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Jesvis
Christ, our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Peter ii. 21-25.
Dearly Beloved: Christ suffered for us, leaving you an ex
ample that you should follow His steps ; Who did no sin, neither
was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled,
did not revile: when He suffered He threatened not: but de
livered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly: who His own
self bore our sins in His body upon the tree : that we being dead
to sins, should live to justice : by Whose stripes you were healed.
For you were as sheep going astray, but you are now converted
to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
Practice.
From the example of Christ we should learn to bear in pa
tience crosses, adversities, and even unjust persecutions. How
otherwise could we be true sheep of this Good Shepherd, if at
the least suffering, at the scoffs and mockeries which men cast
at us, we should become angry and revengeful, and seek to re
taliate with the like?
Aspiration.
O Lord, grant me grace to follow Thee, my shepherd, not to
revile and threaten when I am reviled, calumniated, or perse
cuted for justice' sake, but for love of Thee to suffer all with
patience.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 223
GOSPEL. John x. 11-16.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.
But the hireling and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and
flieth : and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep : and the
hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for
the sheep. I am the good shepherd: and I know Mine, and
Mine know Me. As the Father knoweth Me, and I know the
Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other
sheep I have, that are not of this fold : them also I must bring,
and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and
one shepherd.
v How does Christ show that He is the good shepherd?
I By taking all pains to seek, to find, and to bring back to the
X right way^hejlpsjushee^— that i^th^skuier ; finally, that He
[offers up His life forHisTock, and gives Himself to be their
Ifood, and a ple^ge^^etesSi^ 8).
How do we know the sheep of Christ?
By their hearing and following the voice of Christ. By
224
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
their willingly receiving and striving to fulfil His teachings.
By their obeying the Church and herAiiinisters for whoever
hears
says,
-— -_— ,— ' he
who will not have the" ChurcirTorTrTs mMTeFcannot^have God
for his FaBu^T'"T3y*T3^^
trie Good Shepherd — the holy communi6nT~T3y being pa
tient and meek,~Tx>rgivTn^TjJ^ and willingly.
By loving tKeih-^fettow^men7 an^HbT^eefciig^ot^^intb the
one fold those who are out ol
WHAT WE MUST BELIEVE CONCERNING HOPE.
" I lay down My life for My sheep." — John x. 15.
Jesus Christ, by His death, has obtained for us not only for
giveness of our sins, the grace and means of leading lives pleas
ing to God, but also eternal happiness in the life to come.
In what does eternal happiness consist?
In the clear contemplation and perfect love of God.
What is necessary to obtain eternal happiness?
Before all else, the grace of God, which enlightens our faith,
confirms our hope, inflames our love, and, through the holy
sacraments, imparts the strength required to do good.
Have we nothing more to do?
We must pray for the grace of God, and zealously co
operate with it, since, ai^St. Augustine") says, thoughjGro^.has
created us without our concurrence, yet will He not save us
unless we
When should we make an Act of Hope?
1. In time of tribulation, and of temptation against this
virtue. 2. At receiving the holy sacraments. 3. Frequently
during our ordinary life, and at the hour of death.
Ubirfc Sunfcas after Easter— patronage of St. Sosepb.
EPISTLE AND GOSPEL OF THE FEAST.
EPISTLE. Gen. xlix. 23-26.
-TOSEPH is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold :
v the daughters run to and fro upon the wall. But they
that held darts provoked him, and quarrelled with him, and en-
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 225
vied him. His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of
his arms and his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty
one of Jacob : thence he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel.
The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty
shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the
blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of
the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of thy father are
strengthened with the blessings of his fathers : until the desire
of the everlasting hills should come; may they be upon the
head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his
brethren.
GOSPEL. Luke iii. 21-23.
At that time : It came to pass when all the people was bap
tized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was
opened : and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape as a
dove upon Him : and a voice came from heaven : Thou art My
beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased. And Jesus Himself
was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was
supposed) the son of Joseph.
WHAT WE ABE TO BELIEVE CONCERNING THE EVANGELICAL
COUNSELS.
In what does the perfection of the Christian life consist?
In the perfection of love (Col. iii. 14). The more a man
separates himself from the world, and unites himself with God,
the more perfect he will be. We can attain to the perfection
of the Christian life by means of certain excellent practices
known as the evangelical counsels which Jesus Christ lays before
us, and to which He calls us, without directly commanding us to
adopt them. So that the difference between the command
ments and the evangelical counsels consists in this : that the com
mandments bind us by an indispensable obligation, but the evan
gelical counsels do not. The evangelical counsels are: 1. Vol
untary poverty. 2. Perpetual chastity. 3. Entire obedience
under a spiritual director.
By voluntary poverty is understood a free-will renunciation
of the riches and goods of this world in order to follow Jesus
Christ in His poverty. By perpetual chastity we understand a
free-will, life-long abstinence, not only from everything that is
226 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
contrary to purity, but also abstinence from marriage, in order
to live only for God and His holy service in virginal purity.
By entire obedience we are to understand a voluntary renuncia
tion of one's own will in order to follow the will and command
of a superior whom one chooses for himself. In practising the
evangelical counsels there are three points to be observed, in
order that they may serve, or help to eternal salvation : 1. They
must be practised with a pure intention, seeking thereby noth
ing else than to please God and to praise His holy name.
2. With great humility, in no way giving ourselves preference
over others. 3. By great fidelity in observing not only what
one has vowed, but also what is commanded. Also, one should
live diligently and strictly according to the commandments,
otherwise the practising of the evangelical counsels will be of no
avail.
INTROIT, PRAYER, EPISTLE, AND GOSPEL OF THE SUNDAY.
The Church continues to encourage us to rejoice and praise
God for the resurrection of Jesus, and sings accordingly, at
the Introit of the Mass, " Shout with joy to God, all the
earth, alleluia. Sing ye a psalm to His name, alleluia. Give
glory to His praise, alleluia ! alleluia ! alleluia ! Say unto God
how terrible are Thy works, O Lord. In the multitude of Thy
strength, Thy enemies shall lie to Thee" (Ps. Ixv.).
O God, Who dost show the light of Thy truth to those that
go astray that they may return to the way of justice, grant to
all who are numbered among Christians to reject those things
which are incompatible with this name, and to pursue those
which are becoming. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Peter ii. 11-19.
Dearly Beloved: I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to
refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the
soul, having your conversation good among the gentiles: that
whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may, by the
good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the
day of visitation. Be ye subject therefore to every human
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 227
creature for God's sake : whether it be to the king as excelling :
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers,
and for the praise of the good : for so is the will of God, that
by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men : as free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but
as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brother
hood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be subject to
your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but
also to the froward. For this is thanks- worthy, in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Explanation.
St. Peter here reminds us, 1, that we are only pilgrims on
earth and should not fasten our hearts on the world and its
goods. He admonishes us, 2, to lead an edifying life, particu
larly when we are among the adversaries of our faith, for, while
we may thus do great good, and awaken respect for the Church
an un-Catholic and un -Christian life not only brings shame upon
him who leads it, but gives scandal to non -Catholics, and places
the Church in a false light. He admonishes us, 3, to be sub
ject to our superiors, for God's sake, for it is He Who com
mands this obedience (Rom. xiii. 1).
Aspiration.
O Jesus, I will impress deeply upon my heart the teaching
of Thy apostle, that this world is not my home. Though I
should meet in my pilgrimage many adversities, I will patiently
combat them, and will not suffer anything to keep me from the
way to my true home, heaven. Give me Thy grace, O God,
to fulfil this resolution.
GOSPEL. John xvi. 16-22.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : A little while, and
you shall not see Me : and again a little while, and you shall see
Me : because I go to the Father. Then some of His disciples
said one to another : What is this that He saith to us : A little
while, and you shall not see Me : and again a little while, and
you shall see Me, and because I go to the Father? They said
therefore: What is this that He saith, a little while? we know
not what He speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind
228 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
to ask Him, and He said to them: Of this do you inquire among
yourselves, because I said : A little while, and you shall not see
Me : and again a little while, and you shall see Me ? Amen,
amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the
world shall rejoice : and you shall be made sorrowful, but your
sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in
labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she
hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the an
guish for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you
now indeed have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your
heart shall rejoice : and your joy no man shall take from you.
What is the meaning of the expression, " yet a little
while"?
Jesus meant that He was soon to leave His disciples, and
that during the time of His passion they would have much to
endure; but that He would soon see them again, and that then
no one should any more take their joy from them. What, in
deed, are the sufferings of time, in comparison with the eternal
joy to follow, but a small and trivial thing, passing away in the
twinkling of an eye? (2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.)
Why did Jesus tell His disciples beforehand of their suffer
ings and joys?
1. That they might bear their trials the more easily. 2.
That they might not believe their master to be unable to pre
serve them from sufferings. 3. That by looking to the eternal
joy they might make light of .present troubles, and keep up
their courage! ^h^reTore, "BaysySt. Chrysostom,J-*cT«ll me, if
you were called to a temporal kingdom, but before entering into
the palace, where you were to^Be^cl-Qwned, had to spend the
— i. — '^*^ **"***» --* '- ~"*^-^' S>. ->--..-"^ >>
night in ajax^j^d^p^nsive^stable, wtfala this be hard for you?
would you jiot__be^jLJtcheerfully^in expectation of the king
dom? »
ENCOURAGEMENT TO PATIENCE IN ADVERSITY.
" You shall lament and weep." — John xvi. 20.
Many think that true happiness on earth consists in honors,
riches, or pleasures, but Christ, calls, not the rich, but the poor
and persecuted, "blessed. " He even predicts to His disciples
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 229
nothing but sorrows in this world ; while to the rich and great,
who set their hearts on this world, He predicts nothing but woe,
mourning and weeping in the world to come. How much,
therefore, are they to be pitied, who, regardless of this truth,
think only of spending their days in luxury, but encourage
themselves in the illusory hope of reaching heaven, when Christ
and all saints Ji^ve ascended thither only by the jway of the
cross, and of ^suflferingTlM^wlieir^^ one can
, • >vp.^\^O^-: r — p- ^->-r~ ^"VC^- "'"^ ""^ \ ~>"Tr"-
have part in their joys who has not also first bornej3art of their
sorrows.
jfourtb Sunfcas atter Easter.
THE Introit of the Mass of to-day is a song of praise and
thanksgiving. i ' Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alle
luia, for the Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He
hath revealed His justice in the sight of the gentiles, alleluia,
alleluia. His right hand hath wrought for Him salvation, and
His arm is holy. ' ' Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who dost unite the hearts of the faithful in one will,
grant to Thy people to love what Thou commandest, and to de
sire what Thou dost promise, that among the changes of this
world our hearts may be fixed on that place where true joys re
side. • Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. James i. 17-21.
^Dearly Beloved : Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is
from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom
there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of His own
will hath He begotten us by the word of truth, that we might
be some beginning of His creatures. You know, my dearest
brethren. And let every man be swift to hear : but slow to
tspeak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man worketh not
the justice of God. Wherefore casting away all uncleanness,
and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the en
grafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Practice.
In this epistle the Church teaches us that every good gift
comes from God. But the most precious gift is, that He of His
230 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
grace through the doctrines and institutions of Christianity, has
made us new men, children of God, and heirs of the kingdom
of heaven. The Church admonishes us, further, to walk
worthy of this grace ; to love God as our Father, to listen to
His word willingly, without complaining when He chastises us,
and to shun all impurity, anger, and multiplicity of words, in
which " there shall not want sin " (Prov. x. 19).
Aspiration.
Help me, O God, to preserve the grace received in baptism ;
give me, therefore, a great love for Thy word. Deliver me from
all inordinate passions, that I may walk worthy of Thee, purely
and with patience.
GOSPEL. John xvi. 5-14.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : I go to Him that
sent Me ; and none of you asketh Me : Whither goest Thou ?
But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath
filled your heart. But I tell you the truth : it is expedient to you
that I go : for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you :
but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He is come,
He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judg
ment ; of sin : because they believed not in Me. And of justice :
because I go to the Father : and you shall see Me no longer.
And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already
judged. I have yet many things to say to you : but you cannot
bear them now. But when He the Spirit of truth is come, He
will teach you all truth ; for He shall not speak of Himself ; but
what things soever He shall hear, He shall speak, and the things
that are to come He shall show you. He shall glorify Me : be
cause He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to you.
Why did Jesus say, " I go to My Father"?
To reprove His disciples for giving way to excessive sorrow
over His departure, which was to be the means of purifying
and strengthening their virtue, and of perfecting the work of
redemption, for them and for all the world. Learn from this,
not to give way to too much sorrow in adversity.
How has the Holy Ghost convinced the world of sin, of
justice, and of judgment?
He has convinced the world, 1, of sin, by making the Jews
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 231
know and lament the monstrous crime which they committed
against Christ, and this He effected particularly at Pentecost.
2. Of justice, by teaching the innocence and holiness of
Jesus, on account of which God gave Him a kingdom, and re
quired men to worship Him as the true God.
3. Of judgment, by everywhere overcoming the prince of
darkness, destroying his kingdom, casting down the temples of
idolatry, and in their place, by seemingly weak means, estab
lishing the kingdom of truth and virtue.
How does the Holy Ghost teach all truths?
By preserving the pastors and teachers of the Church from
all errors, in their teaching of faith and morals, and by instruct
ing eaci, member of the Church in the truths of salvation.
Aspiration.
Whither am I going? Will my life bring me to God? O
my God and my Lord, direct my feet in the way of Thy com
mandments, and keep my heart free from sin, that the Holy
Ghost, finding nothing in me worthy of punishment, may teach
me all truth, and bring me safely to Thee, Who art the eternal
truth. Amen.
jf tftb Sunfcas after JSaster,
Introit of the Mass is again a joyful thanksgiving for our
redemption. " Declare the voice of joy, and let it be
heard, alleluia; declare it even to the ends of the earth; the
Lord hath delivered His people, alleluia, alleluia" (Isaias xlviii.
20). " Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to
His name, give glory to His praise." Glory be to the Father,
etc.
Prayer.
O God, from Whom all good things proceed, grant to Thy
suppliants that by Thy inspiration we may think those things
that are right, and by Thy direction perform them. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. James i. 23-27.
Dearly Beloved: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only : deceiving your own selves. But if a man be a hearer of
232 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
the word, and not a doer : he shall be compared to a man be
holding his own countenance in a glass : for he beheld himself,
and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he
was. But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty,
and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his
tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this :
to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation : and to
keep one's self unspotted from this world.
GOSPEL. John xvi. 23-30.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : Amen, amen I say
to you : if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will
give it you. Hitherto you have not asked anything in My name :
ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. These
things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh when
I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will show you plainly
of the Father : in that day you shall ask in My name : and I
say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you : for the Father
Himself loveth you, because you have loved Me, and have be
lieved that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father,
and am come into the world : again I leave the world and I go
to the Father. His disciples say to Him: Behold now Thou
speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb ; now we know that
Thou knowest all things, and Thou needest not that any man
should ask Thee. By this we believe that Thou comest fort!
from God.
Why does God wish us to pray to Him?
To remind us: 1. That all good things come from Him, and
that without Him we have nothing. 2. That we may confide in
Him and try to make ourselves worthy of His divine grace, by
thoughts pleasing to Him, and valuing more, and using better,
the graces we receive.
Why is our prayer often not heard?
Because we often ask for something that would be more
hurtful than profitable to us.
When ought we to pray?
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 233
At all times, but especially at, 1, morning, noon, and night;
2, in time of great temptation; 3, when receiving the sac
raments; 4, when about to undertake anything important;
5, at the hour of death.
Which is the best of all prayers?
The Lord's Prayer; but though we say it a hundred times,
it will fail to produce its beneficial effects if we repeat it
thoughtlessly, without thinking of its meaning or purpose.
SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Why does this prayer commence with i ' Our Father ' ' ?
To encourage us thereby to a child-like confidence in God.
as our Father, Who loves all men, and is ever ready to help
them.
Why do we say, c ' Who art in heaven, ' ' since God is every
where?
To admonish us to lift up our hearts to heaven, our true
home, where God has set up the throne of His kingdom.
What do we ask of God in this prayer?
In the first petition, c 4 hallowed be Thy name, ' ' we pray
that God may be known and loved by all men, and that His
name may be glorified by a Christian life.
In the second petition, " Thy kingdom come," we pray God
to enter and rule in our hearts by His grace, to spread His
Church throughout the whole world, and after our death to
award us eternal happiness.
In the third petition, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in
heaven," we offer ourselves entirely to God, and declare our
selves ready to be subject to the dispositions of His holy will, as
are the angels in heaven, and pray to Him for grace to do this.
In the fourth petition, "give us this day our daily bread,"
we ask for all things which we need ; for the body, as food and
clothing, and for the soul, as grace and the divine word.
In the fifth petition, ' i forgive us our trespasses, as we for
give those that trespass against us, ' ' we pray to God for forgive
ness, but only so far as we forgive those that injure us. We
must therefore remember that we shall not obtain forgiveness
234 THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION".
from God so long as we have in our hearts hatred against any
one
In the sixth petition, " and lead us not into temptation,"
we acknowledge our frailty, and ask God to remove temptations
from us, or, if He permit us to fall into those which the world,
the flesh, and the devil prepare for us, to give us grace not to
consent to them, but, by combating and overcoming them, to
gain the merit and the crown of justice.
In the seventh petition, "but deliver us from evil," we pray
to God to preserve us from sin, and the occasions of sin; an evil
death and hell ; also from all temporal evils, so far as may be
for the salvation of our souls.
THE Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension
are observed as days of solemn supplication, and are called
Rogation Days, from the LatinwoiviT^^ Litany,
because the Litany of thejijain^
procession sjvhich take place. /* \
The^T^oo^tUN^days originated in France. In the yeal[^§j)J
the city of (TienneV suffered from earthquakes, failure of crops,
and other caOTfitiesT^^ saw m
the eventTllieTuHgment of God, catted upon his^liock to appease
Heaven by penances, processions, and praters during the three
days beforg Ascension da^T The example of Mamertus was fol
lowed by all the French Ibjghops, and the customfmally became
general. These three Rogation days^serve also asjy^eparation
foTtlie feast of theT^stfensibn, whiclT reminds us that we have
the most powerfuTn^ercess^r in Our Saviour, Who is now en-
(throned at tftTnpTMnJl^^^
ZTbe ffeast of tbe Hscenafon*
AT the Introit of the Mass the Church sings the words
spoken by the angels to the apostles when Jesus ascended
to heaven: " Ye men of Galilee, why wonder ye, looking up
to heaven? Alleluia. He shall so come as you have seen Him
going up into heaven, alleluia ! alleluia! alleluia! Oh, clap your
hands, all ye nations, shout unto God with the voice of joy."
Glory be to the Father, etc.
THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION.
235
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who be
lieve that Thy only-begotten Son, our Kedeemer, ascended this
day into heaven, may ourselves also, in mind, dwell in heavenly
things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts i. 1-11.
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things
which Jesus began to do and to teach until the day on which,
giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom
He had chosen, He was taken up: to whom also He showed
Himself alive after His passion, by many proofs, for forty days
appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And
eating together with them, He commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of
the Father, which you have heard, saith He, by my mouth : for
John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. They therefore
who were come together asked Him, saying: Lord, wilt Thou
236 THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION.
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? But He said
to them : It is not for you to know the times or moments which
the Father hath put in His own power. But you shall receive
the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be
witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria,
and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had
said these things, while they looked on, He was raised up : and
a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were
beholding Him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by
them in white garments, who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why
stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus Who is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going
into heaven.
Explanation.
For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus remained with
His disciples, to convince them of the truth of His resurrection,
to teach them in regard to His kingdom, that is, His Church,
and their vocation ; and as they were still thinking of an earthly
kingdom to be established by Christ, He referred them to the
instruction of the Holy Ghost, and then ascended to heaven,
whence He shall come to be our judge.
Rejoice over the instructions which are preserved for you
through the Church ; but rejoice especially that Jesus has taken
possession of the glory gained by His most profound humiliations,
for now He is there an intercessor for you ; there He prepares
for you a mansion ; there is now your home. To-day look up
to heaven where Christ is, hope, suffer, love, and pray.
GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 14-20.
At that time, as the eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to
them and He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness
of heart : because they did not believe them who had seen Him
after He was risen again. And He said to them : Go ye into
the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved : but he that be-
lieveth not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow
them that believe : In My name they shall cast out devils : they
shall speak with new tongues : they shall take up serpents : and
if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them : they
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 237
shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. And
the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. But they going
forth preached everywhere, the Lord working withal, and con
firming the word with signs that followed.
" Let us," says St. Augustine, "in spirit, ascend with
Christ, that when the time comes we may follow Him in body
also. But we must know, dear brethren, that neither pride, nor
avarice, nor impurity can ascend with Christ, our Lord, for
pride does not keep company with the teacher of humility, nor
wickedness with the source of all good, nor impurity with the
Son of the Virgin. "
Aspiration.
O King of glory ! Who didst on this day ascend victoriously
above the heavens, leave us not orphans, but send us, from the
Father, the Spirit of truth Whom Thou hast promised, and re
ceive us all into Thy glory.
Why, on this day, is the Easter-candle extinguished and car
ried away after the gospel?
It is done in remembrance of the hour in which Christ, Who
is typified by the Easter-candle, left this earth.
Si£tb Sunfcas after Easter.
s Sunday is a preparation for the feast of Pentecost. At
the Iiitroit of the Mass, the Church sings : " Hear, O Lord,
my voice, with which I have cried to Thee, alleluia. My heart
hath said to Thee, I have sought Thy face ; Thy face, 6 Lord,
will I seek ; turn not away Thy face from me, alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? "
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O almighty and everlasting God, grant us ever to entertain
a devout affection towards Thee, and to serve Thy majesty with
a sincere heart. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Peter iv. 7-11.
Dearly Beloved : Be prudent, and watch in prpyers. But
before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves ;
238 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one
towards another without murmuring. As every man hath re
ceived grace, ministering the same to one another, as good stew
ards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him
speak as the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it
as of the power which God administereth : that in all things
God may be honored through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Practice.
The virtues here recommended are excellent preparatives for
receiving the Holy Ghost, for nothing makes us more worthy of
His grace than temperance, prayer, charity, unity, and hospi
tality towards our neighbors. Endeavor, therefore, to exercise
these virtues, and every day during the following week pray
fervently to the Holy Ghost for help in your endeavors.
GOSPEL. John xv. 26, 27 ; xvi. 1-4.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : When the Paraclete
cometh Whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of
truth, Who proceedetli from the Father, He shall give testi
mony of Me: and you shall give testimony, because you are
with Me from the beginning. These things have I spoken to
you, that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out
of the synagogues : yea, the hour cometh that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doth a service to God. And these
things will they do to you, because they have not known the
Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when
the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you.
What kind of sin is scandal?
It is a frightful sin. By it countless sins are occasioned,
thousands of souls are carried to perdition, while the loving de
sign of God for the salvation of men is frustrated.
How, in general, is scandal given?
By saying, doing, c , neglecting to do something which be
comes the occasion of sin to another.
When do parents give scandal?
When they set a bad example to their children. When they
do not correct them for doing wrong, or neglect to keep them
from what is bad and to teach them that which is good.
PENTECOST.
239
How do employers give scandal?
In much the same way that parents give scandal to their
children : when, by bad example or by command, they keep
their servants or other employees from divine service, or neglect
to make them attend it. When they themselves use, or give to
others, flesh-meat on days of abstinence. When they order the
commission of sin.
Pentecost*
is Pentecost?
The solemn anniversary of the day on which the Holy
Ghost came down, under the appearance of fiery tongues, upon
Mary the Mother of Jesus, and His apostles and disciples, who
were assembled in prayer at Jerusalem.
To express her joy at the descent of the Holy Ghost, the
Church sings, at the Introit of the Mass, ' ' The Spirit of the
Lord hath filled the whole earth, alleluia, and that which con-
taineth all things, hath knowledge of the voice, alleluia, alleluia ' '
(Wis. i. Y). "Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered;
240 PENTECOST.
and let them that hate Him fly before His face." Glory be to
the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who on this day didst instruct the hearts of the
faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that we may be
truly wise in the same Spirit, and ever rejoice in His consola
tion. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts ii. 1-11.
When the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they
were all together in one place : and suddenly there came a sound
from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to
them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every
one of them : and they were all lilled with the Holy Ghost, and
they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy
Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jeru
salem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven.
And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard
them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed and
wondered, saying : Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans?
And how have we heard every man our own tongue wherein
we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and in
habitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and
Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts of Lybia
about Gyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes,
Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own
tongues the wonderful works of God.
Why does the Church celebrate this day so solemnly?
To praise and thank God for sending the Holy Ghost, Who
gave so many spiritual graces and fruits to men.
Why did the Holy Ghost appear under visible signs?
It was done to attract attention, and to indicate outwardly
what took place inwardly. The roar of the mighty wind, ac
cording to the language of the prophets, pointed to the approach
ing Godhead, and was intended to announce something extraor
dinary. The appearance of tongues signified the gift of lan
guages, and the division of them the difference of gifts imparted
PENTECOST. 241
by the Holy Ghost. The fire which lightens, warms, and
quickly spreads, denoted the love of God, the power and joy
with which the apostles, and mankind through them, should be
filled, and indicated the rapid extension of Christianity.
What were the effects of the descent of the Holy Ghost
upon the apostles?
Being enlightened and made acquainted with all truth, freed
from all fear and faint-hearted ness, and undaunted, the apostles
preached everywhere Christ crucified, and for love of Him en
dured with joy all sufferings. Their discourses were understood
by all present, as if they had carefully learned each particular
language. From that time Christianity spread with wonderful
rapidity throughout the whole world. Pray the Holy Ghost
to-day to enlighten you also, to inflame you with holy love, and
to give you strength daily to increase in all goodness.
GOSPEL. John xiv. 23-31.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : If any one love
Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, arid
We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him. He
that loveth Me not, keepeth not My words. And the word
which you have heard is not Mine: but the Father's Who sent
Me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you.
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will
send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring all
things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.
Peace I leave with you ; My peace I give unto you : not as
the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to
you : I go away and I come to you. If you loved Me, you
would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the
Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it
came to pass : that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.
I will not now speak many things with you : for the prince of
this world cometh, and in Me he hath not anything. But that
the world may know that I love the Father : and as the Father
hath given Me commandment, so do I.
Why is the Holy Ghost called a spirit, and the Holy Spirit?
Because He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and isv
as it were, the Spirit of the Father and the Son.
242
PENTECOST.
"Wliat does the Holy Ghost effect in men?
He renews their hearts, by cleansing them from sin, by im
parting to them the sanctification and likeness to God gained
through Christ, together with all these supernatural gifts and
graces by which they can become holy and happy, and brings
forth in them wonderful fruits of sanctity.
Which are these gifts of the Holy Ghost?
The seven following :
1. The gift of wisdom, which teaches us to value the
heavenly more than the earthly, infuses into us a longing for
the same, and points out to us the right means to salvation.
2. The gift of understanding, which enlightens us to rightly
understand the mysteries and doctrines of our holy religion.
3. The gift of counsel in doubtful cases, which enables us to
know what to do or omit, and what to advise others. This gift
is particularly necessary for superiors, for those who are chang
ing their state of life, and for those who are entangled in per-*
plexing and unfortunate marriage relations.
4. The gift of fortitude, which banishes all timidity and
WHIT-MONDAY. 243
human respect, strengthens a man to hate sin, and steadfastly
to practise virtue ; preferring contempt, temporal loss, perse
cution, and even death, to denying Christ by word or deed.
5. The gift of knowledge, by which the Holy Ghost en
lightens us with an inner light, that we may know ourselves,
the snares of self-love, of our passions, of the devil, and of the
world, and may choose the fittest means to overcome them.
6. The gift of piety and devotion, which infuses into us
veneration for God and divine things, and joy in conversing
with Him.
7. The gift of the fear of God, that childlike fear, which
dreads no other misfortune than that of displeasing God, and
which accordingly flees sin as the greatest evil.
Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost?
They are the twelve following: 1. Charity. 2. Joy. 3.
Peace. 4. Patience. 5. Benignity. 6. Goodness. 7. Long-
suffering. 8. Mildness. 9. Faith. 10. Modesty. 11. Conti-
nency. 12. Chastity.
These fruits should be visible in the Christian, for thereby
men shall know that the Holy Ghost dwells in him, as the tree
is known by its fruit.
FILLED with joy over the gracious descent of the Holy Ghost,
the Church sings, at the Introit of the Mass, c ' He fed
them with the fat of wheat, alleluia, and filled them with honey
out of the rock, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice to God, our helper,
sing aloud to the God of Jacob " (Ps. Ixxx.). Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who didst give the Holy Spirit to Thy apostles,
grant to Thy people the effect of their pious prayers, that on
those to whom Thou hast given grace, Thou mayest also bestow
peace. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts x. 34, 43-48.
In those days Peter, opening his mouth, said : Men, brethren,
the Lord commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify
244 WHIT-MONDAY.
that it is He Who was appointed by God to be judge of the
living and of the dead. To Him all the prophets give testi
mony, that by His name all receive remission of sins, who be
lieve in Him. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the
Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word. And the
faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were aston
ished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon
the gentiles also. For they heard them speaking with tongues,
and magnifying God. Then Peter answered : Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have re
ceived the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL. John iii. 16-21.
At that time Jesus said unto Nicodemus: God so loved the
world, as to give His only-begotten Son; that whosoever be-
lieveth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world may be saved by Him. He that believeth in
Him is not judged. But He that doth not believe, is already
judged : because he believeth not in the name of the only-
begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment : because the
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
the light, for their works were evil. For every one that doth
evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works
may not be reproved. But he that doth truth, cometh to the
light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are
done in God.
By what has God most shown the greatness of His love?
By giving up His only-begotten Son to the most painful and
ignominious death, that we, the guilty, might be delivered from
eternal death, and have life everlasting.
If, then, so many are lost, is it the fault of God?
No: as the physician gives up only the incurable, so God
condemns only those who believe not in Christ as their Saviour
and God ; who love darkness, that is, the principles and works
which correspond to their corrupt inclinations; who despise
Jesus, the light of the world, and His doctrines; who neglect
the divine service, the public instructions, and the reception of
WHIT-TUESDAY. 245
the holy sacraments; who take this licentious life for wisdom
and enlightenment; who refuse to be taught, and have pro
nounced their own condemnation, even before the final judg
ment.
"Why should we love God?
Because He has loved us from eternity : He loved us when
as yet we were not. If we love him who does us some good,
who helps us in need, or exposes himself to danger for our
sake, how much more should we love Him Who has given us all
that we have: the angels to be our guards, the sun, moon, and
stars to be our light ; the earth to be our dwelling-place ; the
elements, plants, and animals to supply our necessary wants, and
to serve for our advantage and enjoyment ; Who continually pre
serves us and protects us from countless dangers ; Who has sub
jected Himself for our sake, not merely to the danger of His
life, but to the most painful and humiliating death ; Who for
gives all our sins, heals all our infirmities, redeems our life from
destruction, and crowns us with compassion and mercy.
Introit of the Mass is again a song of joy: " Receive
the joy of your glory, alleluia; giving thanks to God,
alleluia; Who hath called you to a heavenly kingdom. Attend,
O My people, to My law, incline your ears to the words of My
mouth." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
May the power of the Holy Ghost be with us, O Lord, we
beseech Thee, which may mercifully purify our hearts and de
fend them from all adversities. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the same.
EPISTLE. Acts viii. 14-17.
In those days : When the apostles who were in Jerusalem,
had heard that Samaria had received the word of God; they
sent unto them Peter and John. Who, when they were come,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For
He was not as yet come upon any of them : but they were only
246 WHIT-TUESDAY.
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their
hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Explanation.
The Samaritans had been converted and baptized by Philip
the Deacon. Peter and John administered to them, by the
imposition of hands and prayer, the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Is Confirmation a sacrament?
Yes, for Jesus Christ has promised the Holy Ghost not only
to the apostles, but also to all the faithful, to confirm them fully
in faith and charity.
What is the outward sign of this sacrament?
The imposition of the bishop's hands, the anointing with the
chrism, and the words of the bishop.
What grace is conveyed through this sacrament?
Through holy Confirmation, God confirms and completes in
the Christian the grace of Baptism, and strengthens him for the
combat with his spiritual enemies. Confirmation, like Baptism,
cannot be received more than once, because the grace received
in these sacraments is always efficacious if we only cooperate
with it ; and because in these sacraments we receive also an in
delible character, which forever distinguishes the souls of those
who have been baptized and confirmed from those who have not.
GOSPEL. John x. 1-10.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: Amen, amen, I
say to you : he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth ; and the sheep hear his voice : and
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And
when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them : and
the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But a
stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know
not the voice of strangers. This proverb Jesus spoke to them.
But they understood not what He spoke to them. Jesus there
fore said to them again : Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the door
of the sheep. All others, as many as have come, are thieves
and robbers : and the sheep heard them not. I am the door.
WEDNESDAY AFTER PENTECOST — EMBER DAY. 24?
By Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved : and he shall go
in, and go out, and shall find pastures. The thief cometh not,
but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they
may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
How is this parable to be understood?
The sheepfold is the Church, or congregation of the faith
ful ; the door for the flock is Baptism ; for the pastors, lawful
vocation and mission from God, through their spiritual superiors ;
the chief pastor i? Christ ; the sheep are the faithful ; the invisi
ble door-keeper is the Holy Ghost, inasmuch as He prepares
hearts for Jesus; the visible door-keeper is the bishop or his
representatives. The thieves and robbers are the Pharisees and
heretics of all ages, who lead astray the sheep of Christ, and de
stroy their spiritual life by false doctrines. If we would not
become the prey of thieves and murderers, we must follow the
doctrines of the teachers and pastors whom Christ has appointed
for His Church.
Metmestms after Pentecost— Ember Bas,
EPISTLE. Acts v. 12-16.
~TN those days : By the hands of the apostles were many signs
-*- and wonders wrought among the people. And they were
all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest no man
durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.
And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord
was more increased : insomuch that they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when
Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of
them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And
there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the
neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troub
led with unclean spirits, who were all healed.
GOSPEL. John vi. 44-52.
At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews : No
man can come to Me, except the Father, Who hath sent Me,
draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written
in the prophets : And they shall all be taught of God. Every one
that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to Me.
248 FRIDAY AFTER PENTECOST — EMBER DAY.
Not that any man hath seen the Father, but He Who is of God,
He hath seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say unto you : He that
believeth in Me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is
the bread which cometh down from heaven ; that if any man eat
of it he may not die. I am the living bread, which came down
from heaven. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for
ever : and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of
the world.
jf rifcas after Pentecost— Ember Dap.
EPISTLE. Joel ii. 23-27.
THUS saith the Lord God: O children of Sion, rejoice, and be
joyful, in the Lord your God : because He hath given you
a teacher of justice, and He will make the early and the latter
rain to come down for you as in the beginning. And the floors
shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall overflow with
wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years which the
locust, and the bruclms, and the mildew, and the palmer-worm
have eaten: My great host which I sent upon you. And you
shall eat in plenty, and shall be filled : and you shall praise the
name of the Lord your God, Who hath done wonders with you,
and My people shall not be confounded forever. And you
shall know that I am in the midst of Israel : and I am the Lord
your God, and there is none besides : and My people shall not
be confounded forever, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Luke v. 17-26.
At that time : It came to pass on a certain day, as Jesus sat
teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sit
ting by, that were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea,
and Jerusalem : and the power of the Lord was to heal them.
And behold men brought in a bed a man who had the palsy:
and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him.
And when they could not find by what way they might bring
him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof,
and let him down through the tiles with his bed, into the midst
before Jesus. Whose faith when He saw, He said: Man, thy
sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and Pharisees began to
SATURDAY AFTER PENTECOST — EMBER DAY.
249
fhink, saying: Who is this Who speaketh blasphemies? Who
can forgive sins but God alone? And when Jesus knew their
thoughts, answering He said to them : What is it you think in
your hearts? Which is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee ;
or to say, Arise and walk? But that you may know that the
Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He saith to the
sick of the palsy) : I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed and go
into thy house. And immediately rising up before them, he
took up the bed on which he lay ; and he went away to his own
house, glorifying God. And all were astonished; and they
glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying : We
have seen wonderful things to-day.
Saturfcap after Pentecost— Ember
EPISTLE, fiomans v. 1-5.
"ORETHREN: Being justified therefore by faith, let us have
•*-* peace with God, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom
also we have access through faith into this grace, wherein we
250 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.
stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.
And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing
that tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial; and trial
hope, and hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God
is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost Who is given to
us.
GOSPEL. Luke iv. 38-44.
At that time: Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went
into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with
a great fever, and they besought Him for her. And standing
over her, He commanded the fever, and it left her. And imme
diately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun was
down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought
them to Him. But He laying His hands on every one of them,
healed them. And devils went out from many, crying out and
saying : Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, He
suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ.
And when it was day, going out He went into a desert place,
and the multitudes sought Him, and came unto Him : and they
detained Him that He should not depart from them. To whom
He said : To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God :
for therefor am I sent. And He was preaching in the synagogues
of Galilee.
ffeast of tbe /l&ost 1bol£ ZTrinttp.
Sunday is dedicated to the worship of the Triune God,
and is called accordingly the Lord's day; but the first
Sunday after Pentecost is appointed by the Church a special feast
of the Most Holy Trinity, because this mystery, as the funda
mental doctrine of the Christian religion, began at once to be
preached by the apostles, as soon as they had been enlightened
and strengthened by the descent of the Holy Ghost.
What thoughts and affections should occupy our minds on
this feast?
Although the mystery of the Trinity is incomprehensible to
us, we must consider: 1. That God would cease to be God, if
our limited understanding were capable of penetrating the sub
stance of Hk nature.
FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY. 251
2. The mystery of the Blessed Trinity, though incompre
hensible to our intellect, is yet not without fruit in our hearts.
The records of revelation show us God the Father as our Creator,
God the Son as our Redeemer, God the Holy Ghost as our
Sanctifier ; and should not this move us to a child-like gratitude
towards the blessed Trinity?
In praise of the Most Holy Trinity, the Church sings at the
Introit of the Mass, ' ' Blessed be the Holy Trinity and undivided
Unity ; we will give glory to Him, because He hath shown His
mercy to us. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name
in all the earth." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O almighty and eternal God, Who hast created Thy servant
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, in the confession
of the true faith, and to adore the unity in the power of Thy
majesty, we beseech Thee, that by firmness in the same faith,
we may be ever protected from all adversities. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. xi. 33-36.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowl
edge of God ! How incomprehensible are His judgments, and
how unsearchable His ways ! For who hath known the mind of
the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath
first given to Him, and recompense shall be made Him? For
of Him, and by Him, and in Him, are all things : to Him be
glory forever. Amen.
Explanation.
The ground of St. Paul's admiration in this epistle is the un
fathomable wisdom and love of God, by which He permitted
the Jews and heathen to fall into unbelief, that He might have
mercy on all, and make all perceive that they were justified, not
through their merits, but only through His grace. But the
Church makes use of these words to express her reverent admi
ration for the greatness of the mystery of the all Holy Trinity.
Though we can neither measure nor comprehend this mystery,
yet no man of sound reason will hesitate to believe it, if he con-
252
FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.
siders that it is most plainly revealed by God ; that as God, the
Infinite, cannot be comprehended by the spirit of man, so also
He can reveal more than we can understand ; and that, finally,
there are many things in man himself, and in nature, which we
acknowledge as true, but cannot comprehend. Besides, does not
our holy religion assure us, that one day we shall behold face to
face the Infinite Whose image is now reflected dimly in the
mirror of nature? Let us add hope, therefore, to our faith, and
if true and sincere love be based upon these two, our understand
ing and heart will have abundant consolation in regard to this
great mystery.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxviii. 18-20.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : All power is given
to Me in heaven and in earth; going therefore teach ye all
nations : baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you : and behold I am with you
all days, even to the consummation of the world.
FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY. 253
What command does Our Saviour give in this gospel?
He commands His apostles to teach all nations, and to baptize
them.
Is Baptism a sacrament?
Yes, for by it we receive the grace of God, through an out
ward sign instituted by Christ.
What is the outward sign?
Pouring water on the head of the person to be baptized and
pronouncing at the same time the words : "I baptize thee in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
What is the effect of the grace of Baptism?
Through water and the Holy Ghost, the baptized person is
cleansed from original sin, and from all actual sins, if he has
committed such; is spiritually new-born, and made a child of
God and a joint-heir with Christ (John iii. 6 ; Rom. viii. 17).
What is the use of sponsors?
1. In the name of the child, they express the desire to be
baptized, and make the profession of faith, together with the
promise to live according to the doctrine of Christ. 2. In case
254 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
the parents should die, or neglect their duty, the god-parents
may provide for the instruction of the children. 3. They are
witnesses that such a person has been baptized.
THE MOST BLESSED TRINITY.
Who is God?
God is an infinite being, of all possible perfections, the most
sublime and excellent of all goods, existing from all eternity,
and containing within Himself the principle of His own being
and substance ; from Whom all other things have received their
existence and life, "for of Him, and by Him, and in Him are
all things" (Rom. xi. 36).
What is the blessed Trinity?
It is this one God, Who is one in nature and threefold in
person, — the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Is each of these persons God?
Yes, for each possesses the divine nature and substance.
Is any of these three persons older, more powerful, or greater
than another?
No ; they are all three, from eternity, equal in power, sub
limity, and majesty, and must therefore be equally adored.
From Whom is the Father?
From Himself, before all eternity.
From Whom is God the Son?
The Son is begotten of the Father before all ages.
From Whom is God the Holy Ghost?
He proceeds from the Father and the Son.
fffrst Sunfcas after Pentecost.
Introit of the Mass is an encouragement to confidence in
the divine mercy. " Lord, I have trusted in Thy mercy,
my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation, I will sing to the Lord,
Who giveth me good things. How long, O Lord, wilt Thou
forget me unto the end? How long dost Thou turn away Thy
face from me? " (Ps. xi'i. 1,6.) Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, the strength of those who hope in Thee, favorably
give ear to our supplications, and since, without Thee, mortal
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 255
infirmity can do nothing, grant the help of Thy grace, that in
fulfilling Thy commandments, we may please Thee both in will
and action. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. I. John iv. 8-21.
Dearly Beloved: God is charity. By this hath the charity
of God appeared toward us, because God hath sent His only- be-
gotten Son into the world, that we may live by Him. In this
is charity : not as though we had loved God, but because He
hath first loved us, and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our
sins. My dearest, if God hath so loved us, we also ought to
love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we
love one another God abideth in us, and His charity is perfected
in us. In this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us,
because He hath given us of His spirit. And we have seen,
and do testify, that the Father hath sent His Son to be the
Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is
the Son of God, God abideth in Him, and he in God. And
we have known and have believed the charity which God hath
to us. God is charity ; and he that abideth in charity abideth
in God, and God in him. In this is the charity of God per
fected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judg
ment, because as He is, we also are in this world. Fear is not
in charity ; but perfect charity casteth out fear because fear hath
pain ; and he that feareth is not perfected in charity. Let us
therefore love God because God first hath loved us. If any
man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For
he that loveth not his brother whom he seeth, how can he love
God Whom he seeth not? And this commandment we have
from God, that he who loveth God love also his brother.
GOSPEL. Luke vi. 36-42.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Be ye merciful, as
your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be
judged : condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. For
give, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to
you : good measure and pressed down and shaken together and
running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the
same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured
to you again. And He spoke also to them a similitude : Can
256 CORPUS CHRISTI.
the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch?
The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be per
fect, if he be as his master. And why seest thou the mote in
thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou
considerest not? Or how canst thou say to thy brother:
Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye : when thou thy
self seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the
beam out of thy own eye ; and then shalt thou see clearly to
take out the mote from thy brother's eye.
Aspiration.
Oh, that I always had been merciful towards my neighbor
and never judged any one rashly and falsely ! For how can I
now expect a merciful and gracious judgment from God? O my
God, I detest these sins from my heart ; I forgive all those who
have offended me, and I hope to obtain forgiveness of my own
sins. Enlighten, O Lord, my blindness, that for the future I
may avoid those sins, and by showing myself full of mercy and
charity, may obtain mercy in the day of judgment. Amen
* Corpus Gbristt,
is this day called Corpus Christi?
Because on this day the Catholic Church solemnly cele
brates the institution of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. The
name, which is Latin, signifies the body of Christ.
Why is this feast not celebrated on Maundy Thursday?
Because on Maundy Thursday, the day of the institution of
this sacrament, the Church is occupied with the passion and
death of Christ, and has no thought of joy, but gives herself up
to grief.
By whom was this feast established?
It was instituted by Pope Urban IY. Persuaded by a de
vout nun of JJgge, who believed ?ierself to be divinely encour
aged to introduce this feast, Robert, Bishop of Liege, deter
mined, in the year £&$) to celebrate this feast in his diocese.
This intentio^J^Wasprevented from carrying out by death.
In the yea/126^Pope UrbanTlC*co!^nan^dMhis feast to be
\^^^ ^J ^- *"^**fc
solemnly celebrated throughout the whole Church. Clement V.
* This feast is no longer a holyday of obligation in the United States.
CORPUS CHKISTI. 257
confirmed tins order, at the Council of Yienne, 1311, and fixed
the feast on the first Thursday after Tpkrity Sun^^^
For what purpose was tlns^ feast instituted, and why are pro
cessions so solemnly held on this day?
1. To declare, openly, to the faithful the real and substan
tial presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. 2. In
order to manifest, in the sight of heaven and earth, honor and
adoration for Him before Whom every knee shall bow. 3. To
give public thanks for the institution of this holy sacrament,
and for all the graces thereby conferred upon the faithful. 4.
To repair, in some measure, by solemn adoration, the wrongs
done to Christ, in this sacrament. 5. To bring down God's
blessing upon the land and upon the people. 6. To show that
Jesus, as true God, dwells not only in temples built by hands,
but that He has heaven for His throne, the earth for His foot
stool, and the whole world for His temple.
The Church sings at the Introit of the Mass : ' ' He fed them
with the fat of wheat, alleluia ; and filled them with honey out
of the rock, alleluia, alleluia. Eejoice to God our helper, sing
aloud to the God of Jacob " (Ps. Ixxx.). Glory be to the Father,
etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who in this wonderful sacrament hast left us a me
morial of Thy passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to rever
ence the sacred mysteries of Thy body and blood, that we may
ever perceive within us the fruit of Thy redemption. Through
Christ, etc.
EPISTLE, i. GOT. xi. 23-29.
Brethren : For I have received of the Lord that which also
I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in
which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke
and said : Take ye and eat : This is My body, which shall be
delivered for you : this do for the commemoration of Me. In
like manner also the chalice, after He had supped, saying : This
chalice is the New Testament in My blood, this do ye as often
as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as of ten
as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show
the death of the Lord until He come : therefore whosoever
shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily,
258 CORPUS CHRISTI.
shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But
let a man prove himself : and so let him eat of that bread and
drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh un
worthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself: not dis
cerning the body of the Lord.
GOSPEL. John vi. 56-59.
At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews : My
flesh is meat indeed : and My blood is drink indeed ; he that
eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me, and I
in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the
Father : so he that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your
fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread
shall live forever.
Why did Jesus say, " this is the bread that came down
from heaven ' ' ?
He wished thereby to teach the Jews that the bread which
He would give them, like the manna, came down from heaven,
and was, indeed, the only true bread from heaven. The manna
was but a type, and could only prolong the life of the body.
The type was now to be f ulrilled ; the bread that He was about
to give them would impart to them eternal life, and this bread
would be His flesh, — Himself, Who truly came from heaven, to
redeem mankind, and to bring them to life everlasting. Jesus
calls His flesh bread, partly on account of its likeness to the
manna, partly on account of its effect ; for as bread nourishes
the body, and sustains the earthly life, so the body of Christ, in
the Holy Sacrament, nourishes the soul, and imparts to it, con
tinually, a new, divine, and everlasting life.
What is the Holy Sacrament of the Altar?
It is that sacrament in which, after the words of its institu
tion have been spoken by the priest, Jesus Christ is present,
whole and entire, in His Godhead and in His manhood, under
the appearance of bread and wine.
When and how did Jesus institute this sacrament?
At the Last Supper. In the night, before He was betrayed,
He took bread, and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to His
disciples saying, " Take and eat, for this is My body which will
CORPUS CHRISTI.
259
be given for you." In the same manner, He took the chalice
and said, ' ' Take and drink, for this chalice is the new cove
nant in My blood. Do this as often as you drink from it in
commemoration of Me."
"What did Jesus effect by these words?
He changed bread and wine into His most precious body
and blood.
Has He given to others the power to do the same?
Yes ; He gave this power to His apostles and their succes
sors, the bishops and priests, in these words: u Do this in com
memoration of Me."
"What takes place at the words of consecration?
Bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of
Jesus Christ, and only the outward appearances of b^ead and
wine remain.
How is Jesus present in the Most Holy Sacrament?
He is present, truly, really, and substantially, in His divinity
and humanity, in flesh and blood, in body and soul, under the
appearances of bread and wine.
260 CORPUS CHRISTI.
Why do we believe this?
1. Because the words of Jesus do not reasonably admit of
any other meaning: since by them we see (a) that Jesus gave
His disciples a certain nourishment which they were to eat ; (b)
that this nourishment was bread and wine to all appearances,
but Jesus called the bread His body, which was afterwards to be
sacrificed for us, and the wine His blood, which was to be shed
for us: this food consequently was not bread and wine, but,
under the appearance of bread and wine, was indeed His body
and blood; since what He gave for our redemption was not
bread and wine, but His true body and His true blood ; (c) that
as the body and blood of Jesus were inseparable from His soul
and divinity, He gave Himself up for our nourishment, whole and
undivided, as He hung, bled, and died upon the cross; (d) that
He commanded what He had done to be continued until He
should come again (1 Cor. xi. 26), that is, until the end of the
world ; and that He, (e) on account of this being His testament,
and the New Law, was not at liberty to speak figuratively, but
plainly and distinctly.
2. Because the apostles preached this very doctrine.
3. Because the Catholic Church, the pillar and foundation
of truth, has thus constantly taught, from the apostles' times
down to the present day, as the oldest Councils and the Holy
Fathers unanimously testify.
Why is communion given only in one kind ?
1. The Church gives holy communion only under one kind,
to guard against abuses; as, for example, the spilling of the
wine ; 2. In opposition to those who hold that communion can
only be received under both kinds, to hold fast the true doctrine,
which is that Christ, whole and undivided, the entire sacrament,
is received under one kind. The truth of this doctrine is plain
from this, that where the living body of Christ is, there is the
whole Christ ; that Christ promises eternal life to him who eats
this bread alone (John vi. 59) ; and finally, that there is no divine
law which commands the receiving of this sacrament under both
kinds.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 261
Seconfc Sunday after Pentecost
ON this Sunday also, the Church, in consideration of God's
love towards us, animates us to love Him and our neigh
bor, and sings at the Introit of the Mass: "The Lord became
my protector, and He brought me forth into a large place; He
saved me because He was well pleased with me. I will love
Thee, O Lord, my strength ; the Lord is my rock, my refuge,
and my deliverer." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, O Lord, that we may have a perpetual fear and love
of Thy holy name, for Thou never ceasest to direct and govern,
by Thy grace, those whom Thou instructest in the solidity of
Thy love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. John Hi. 13-18.
Dearly Beloved : Wonder not if the world hate you. "We
know that we have passed from death to life, because we love
the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death; whosoever
hateth his brother is a murderer : and you know that no mur
derer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have
known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His life
for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother
in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him, how doth the
charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love
in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Explanation.
A true Christian may be known by the love he has for his
neighbor. For as it belongs to a child of this world, to the
wicked, the godless, to hate and persecute the man whose life
contradicts their own, so, on the other hand, love of one's neigh
bor, of one's enemy, is the mark by which to know whether a
man is truly regenerated and translated from the death of sin to
spiritual life. For he that loveth not, abideth in death — can
not become a child of God, Who is love ; has not in him the life
of God ; rather he is a murderer, because his lack of love, and
his hatred, have first deprived him of spiritual life, and next.
262 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
become the source of all other offences against his neighbor, of
scandal, of seduction like Satan, of murder like Cain.
GOSPEL. Luke xiv. 16-24.
At that time Jesus spoke to the Pharisees this parable : A
certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he
sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were
invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.
And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to
him : I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it :
I pray thee, hold me excused. And another said: I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them : I pray thee,
hold me excused. And another said : I have married a wife,
and therefore I cannot come. And the servant returning told
these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being
angry, said to his servant : Go out quickly into the streets and
lanes of the city : and bring in hither the poor and the feeble,
and the blind and the lame. And the servant said : Lord, it is
done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the
Lord said to the servant : Go out into the highways and hedges ;
and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. But
I say unto you that none of those men that were invited shall
taste of my supper.
How is the parable of the great supper to be understood?
By the supper is meant the kingdom of God upon earth, the
Church of Christ, in which are deposited all the treasures of
grace, for the nourishment, strengthening, and sanctification of
our souls. It is a great supper, because the Church is to take
in all men of all times.
Jesus, the God-Man, Himself prepares this supper by estab
lishing His Church. The servant represents the apostles and
the successors whom He sends into all the world, to call both
Jews and gentiles. The first invited were the Jews, to whom
the coming of the Messias had been announced beforehand, and
who were the first called to the Church.
What is denoted by the excuses of those invited?
He who bought a farm signifies those proud and avaricious
men who seek only for temporal goods ; he who wished to try
his five yoke of oxen represents those too-busy persons who find
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 263
no time to do anything for God and heaven; finally, he who
could not come on account of his wife stands for those sensual
persons who, through the lusts and pleasures of sense, render
themselves insensible to heavenly joys.
Now as the Jews, by such worthless excuses, had shown
themselves unworthy to be received into the kingdom of God,
they were accordingly shut out, and others called in their stead.
Who are these others?
First, the humble and docile Jews, who were the opposite of
the proud, avaricious, and sensual Pharisees; and in the next
place those gentiles prepared for Christianity, who, through the
apostles and their successors, were brought into the Church from
the four quarters of the world.
In what other sense may this parable be understood?
St. Gregory interprets it as referring to the Most Holy Sac
rament of the Altar. That is, indeed, a feast to which all are
invited, which offers the fulness of graces and spiritual gifts,
and is, therefore, fitly called a great feast ; it is despised by the
sensual, proud, and earthly; but to the penitent, the humble,
the loving, it conveys innumerable blessings and inestimable
benefits.
LESSONS AGAINST IMPURITY.
" I have married a wife, and therefore cannot come." — Luke xiv. 20.
By introducing in this parable a wedding as an excuse, Our
Saviour points out impurity as a hinderance to entering into the
kingdom of heaven; that is, the violation of modesty, either
in thought, imagination, or desire, in gesture, words, dress, or
actions; thus He would show us how detestable, shameful, and
pernicious is this vice, which makes men so miserable, and incite
us to purity and chastity, in whatever state of life we may'live.
On account of this sin of impurity, God repented of having
created mankind, and brought the flood upon the earth, de
stroyed Sodom and Gomorrha with fire and brimstone, cut off
the brothers Her and Onan by sudden death, and gave nearly
the whole tribe of Benjamin to be slain.
What are the best means to preserve us from impurity?
1. Avoid the following: (a) idleness, which breeds evil
thoughts and desires ; (6) reading bad books ; (c) excess in eating
and drinking ; (d) bad company.
264 FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
2. (a) Preserve modesty, which is a safeguard against im
purity ; (£) reverence God ; (<?) remember the bitter passion and
death of Our Saviour ; (d) think frequently of death, judgment,
and hell.
3. Flee the first sin; dread the first thought, the first mo-
tion; avoid, also, what appears a trifling thing, if it offend
modesty.
4. Be zealous in prayer to God, and to Ilis blessed Mother.
5. Restrain your senses, particularly your eyes. Learn to
be abstemious, and deny yourself even lawful enjoyments and
pleasures, that you may the more easily give up those that are
unlawful.
6. Watch always, and especially on occasions that cannot be
avoided.
7. Finally, go often to holy communion, and choose a zeal
ous confessor, in whom you ought to place entire confidence
and follow as your father. Think on God ; combat on every
occasion promptly, without making terms; call confidently on
God for help, and you will carry off the victory, and become
worthy, one day, to be a follower of the Lamb.
jfeast of tbe Sacrefc fbeart of Jesus.
A LTHOUGH many pious souls had been accustomed, in the
-£A_ silence of their secluded lives, to venerate the sacred
Heart of Jesus with great devotion, still our divine Saviour de
sired that the boundless love of His Heart might be known by all
men, and that a new fire of love should thereby be kindled in
the cold hearts of Christians. For this purpose He made use of
a frail and little-known instrument in the person of Margaret
Mary Alacoque, a nun of the Order of the Visitation, at Paray-
le-Monial, France.
One day, when, according to her custom during the octave
of Corpus Christi, she was deeply engaged in devotions before
the Blessed Sacrament, the divine Saviour appeared to her,
showed her His Heart burning with love, and said: " Behold this
Heart, which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even
to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love.
In return I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by
their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and con
FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
265
tempt they have for Me in this sacrament of love. And what
is most painful to Me is that they are hearts consecrated to Me.
It is for this reason I ask thee that the first Friday after the
octave of Corpus Christi be appropriated to a special feast to
honor My Heart by communicating on that day and making
reparation for the indignity that it has received. And I promise
that My Heart shall dilate to pour out abundantly the influences
of its love on all that will render it this honor or procure its
being rendered."
Margaret obeyed, but met everywhere the greatest oppo
sition, until finally, when she became mistress of novices, she
succeeded, by the help of her divine Spouse, in animating her
young charges to venerate the sacred Heart of Jesus. But this
twas not sufficient for her zeal. She persevered until she softened
the opposition of the nuns, and kindled in all an equal devotion
towards the most sacred Heart. Thence the devotion spread to
the adjoining dioceses, where confraternities in honor of the most
sacred Heart of Jesus soon sprung up. Pope Clement XIII.,
after having instituted a most rigorous examination of the whole
266 FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
affair, commanded that the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus should be solemnly celebrated throughout the whole Cath
olic Church every year, on the first Friday after the octave of
Corpus Christi.
THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
i. Object of this Devotion.
In the divine Heart of Our Saviour we must not imagine an
inanimate heart, separated from the person of Christ, but the
living heart of the God-Man, the centre of all His affections, the
fountain of all His virtues, the most touching emblem of His in
finite love to man. The Church venerates the cross, the blood,
and the wounds of the divine Saviour, by feasts which have
their proper masses and lessons, in order, by meditation upon
these objects, to awaken in us a more fervent devotion to the
Redeemer. How much more worthy, then, of our devotion is
the sacred Heart of Our Saviour, since all its thoughts, move
ments, and affections aim at our salvation, and it is always ready
to receive truly penitent sinners, to pardon them, to restore them
again to God's favor, and make them partakers of eternal hap
piness I
n. Excellence of this Devotion.
It is, writes the venerable P. Simon Gourdan :
1. A holy devotion, for therein men venerate in Christ those
affections and motions of His Heart by which He sanctified the
Church, glorified His Heavenly Father, and showed Himself to
men as a perfect example of the most sublime holiness.
2. An ancient devotion of the Catholic Church, which, in
structed by St. Paul, the great apostle, has at all times ac
knowledged the great beneficence of the divine and sacred
Heart of Jesus.
3. An approved devotion, for the Holy Scriptures every
where admonish us to renew the heart, by changing our lives ; to
penetrate it with true sorrow, to inflame it with divine love, and
to adorn it by the practice of all virtues. When, therefore, a
new heart is promised us, by which to direct our lives, that can
be no other than the Heart of Jesus, which is to us the pattern of
all excellence, and which we must follow if we would be saved.
4. A perfect devotion, as being the origin of all other
devotions. For the Heart of Jesus is the inexhaustible treasury
FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 267
from which the blessed Mother of God, and all other saints have
derived their graces, their virtues, their life, their spiritual goods.
Filled first with treasures from this source, different servants of
God have instituted and established other devotions.
5. A profitable devotion, for thereby we have brought be
fore our eyes the very fountain of life and grace, and can draw
directly from it, increasing in ourselves all virtues, by adoring
this divine Heart, meditating on its holy affections, and endeav
oring to imitate them.
6. A devotion pleasing to God, for thus we adore God, as
Christ requires, in spirit and in truth, serving Him inwardly in
our hearts, and endeavoring to please Him. Finally it is :
7. A useful devotion, since its whole object is to unite us
most intimately with Christ as members of Him, her head, to
make us live by and according to His spirit, to have one heart
and soul with Him, and through grace finally to become one with
Him, which is and must be the object of all devotions.
As this devotion is, then, so excellent, we cannot sufficiently
recommend it to all who are anxious for their salvation. "While
every one can practise this devotion, and adore the sacred Heart
of Jesus, by himself, there is a greater blessing when pious souls
unite and form a confraternity for practising the devotion. Of
such confraternities there were in the year 1726 more than three
hundred, and they are now established throughout all Catholic
countries. Hesitate not, Christian soul, to engage in this devo
tion, and to join in the adoration of that sacred Heart of Jesus
in which all men find propitiation, — the pious, confidence; sin
ners, hope; the afflicted, consolation; the sick, support; the
dying, refuge ; the elect, joy and delight.
The Introit of the Mass for this feast is : " He will have
mercy according to the multitude of His mercies, for He hath
not willingly afflicted nor cast off the children of men ; the Lord
is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul that seeketh Him,
alleluia, alleluia" (Lamentations iii. 32-35). " The mercies of
the Lord I will sing forever to generation and generation5 ' (Ps.
Ixxxviii. 2). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who, glory
ing in the most sacred Heart of Thy Son, commemorate the
268 FEAST OF THE SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
chief benefits of His charity towards us, may equally rejoice in
their acts and fruits. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias xii. 1-6.
I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, for Thou wast angry
with me : Thy wrath is turned away, and Thou hast comforted
me. Behold God is my Saviour. I will deal confidently, and
will not fear; because the Lord is my strength, and my praise,
and He is become my salvation. You shallidraw waters with
joy out of the Saviour's fountains. And you shall say in that
day : Praise ye the Lord, and call upon His name : make His
inventions known among the people : remember that His name
is high. Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath done great things:
show this forth in all the earth. Rejoice, and praise, O thou
habitation of Sion : for great is He that is in the midst of thee,
the Holy One of Israel.
Explanation.
This epistle is a song of gratitude for the deliverance of the
Jews from the hands of their enemies, and at the same time a
prophecy of the coming redemption of mankind from sin and
death, through Jesus Christ. " You shall draw waters with joy
out of the Saviour's fountains." These fountains are the graces
which Christ has obtained for us on the cross, but particularly,
says St. Augustine, the holy sacraments of Baptism and Eucha
rist. We should rejoice over these graces, particularly that the
Holy One of Israel, Jesus, the Son of God, is in the midst of
Sion, that is, the Catholic Church, in the Most Holy Sacrament
of the Eucharist, remaining therein until the end of time.
Oh, let us often approach the ever-fiowing fountain of all
graces, the Most Holy Eucharist, and with confidence draw con
solation, assistance, strength, and power from this fountain of
love!
GOSPEL. John xix. 31-35.
At that time the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that
the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day
(for that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their
legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
The soldiers, therefore came : and they broke the legs of the
first, and of the othe* that was crucified with him. But after
FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 269
they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already
dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers,
with a spear, opened His side, and immediately there came out
blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony :
and his testimony is true.
Explanation.
According to the Jewish law, a criminal could not be put to
death, nor could the body of one who had been executed remain
on the place of execution, on the Sabbath-day. The Jews,
therefore, asked Pilate that the bodies of Jesus and the two
thieves should be buried; but before this could be done, ac
cording to the Roman law, the legs of the crucified had to be
broken with an iron mace: this the soldiers did to the two
thieves, who were still alive ; but when they found that Jesus
was dead, one of the soldiers, whose name was Longinus, opened
His side with a spear as had been predicted by the prophets.
Jesus permitted his most sacred Heart to be opened — 1. To
atone for those sins which come forth from the hearts of men,
as Christ Himself says, " For from the heart come forth evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testi
monies, blasphemies" (Matt. xv. 19). 2. To show the infinite
love with which He first loved us, and to which the spear should
point us. 3. To show that there was nothing so dear to Him
that 'He would not give it to us, since, for our salvation, He
shed the last drop of His heart's blood. 4. To provide, as it
were, an abode in His opened side, according to the words of
St. Augustine : ' c The Evangelist is very cautious in his lan
guage ; for he said, not the soldier pierced or wounded His side,
but he opened it, that thereby there might be opened to us the
door from which flow into the Church those holy sacraments
without which we cannot enter into true life. ' '
When temptation assails us, or sorrow depresses us, let us
flee to this abode, and dwell therein until the storm has passed
away; according to the words of the Prophet, " Enter thou into
the rock, and hide thee in the pit " (Isaias ii. 10). For what is
the rock but Christ, and the pit, but His wound?
An Offering to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Whoever says the following prayer before the image of the
most sacred Heart of Jesus, with sincere sorrow for his sins,
270 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
gains each time an indulgence of one hundred days; and by
saying it daily for a month, he can on any one day gain a plenary
indulgence, if he makes his confession, receives communion, and
prays according to the intention of the Church :
" My loving Jesus, I (N.N.) give Thee my heart; and I
consecrate myself wholly to Thee, out of the grateful love I bear
Thee, and as a reparation for all my unfaithfulness ; and with
Thy aid I purpose never to sin again."
Ubfrfc Sunfcas after Pentecost.
ON this Sunday, in the Introit of the Mass, the Church invites
the sinner to call on the Lord with confidence and humil
ity. " Look Thou upon me and have mercy upon me, O Lord,
for I am alone and poor. See my abjection and my labor, and
forgive me all my sins, O my God. To Thee, O Lord, have I
lifted up my soul; in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me
not be ashamed " (Ps. xxiv.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, the protector of those who hope in Thee, without
Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, multiply Thy mercy
upon us, that under Thy rule and guidance we may so pass
through the goods of time as not to forfeit those of eternity.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. I. Peter v. 6-11.
Dearly Beloved: Be you humbled under the mighty hand
of God, that He may exalt you in the time of visitat;on. Cast
ing all your care upon Him, for He hath care of you. Be sober
and watch : because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye,
strong in faith, knowing that the same affliction befalleth your
brethren who are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who
hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you
have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you, and confirm
you, and establish you. To Him be glory and empire forever
and ever. Amen.
INSTRUCTION ON INTEMPERANCE.
" Be sober and watch."— I. Peter v. 8.
St. Peter prescribes sobriety and watchfulness as necessary
means for resisting the attacks of the devil, who by day and
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 271
night goes about seeking whom he may devour. Woe to those
who, by reason of their drunkenness, live in a continual night,
and lie in the perpetual sleep of sin ! How will it be with them
if, suddenly awakened from this sleep by death, they find them
selves standing, burdened with innumerable and unknown sins,
before the judgment-seat of God? For who can number the
sins, committed in and by reason of drunkenness, which the
drunkard either accounts as trifles, easily pardoned, or else,
not knowing what he has thought, said, and done in his fit of
intoxication, considers to be no sins at all?
Will the divine Judge, at the last day, thus reckon? Will
He also find no sin in them? Will He let go unpunished the
infamous deeds and the scandals of their drunkenness? He Who
demands strict account of every word spoken in vain, will He
make no inquiry of so many shameful, scandalous, and blas
phemous sayings, of so much time wasted, of so much money
squandered, of so many neglects of the divine service, of the
education of children, of the affairs of home, and of innumerable
other sins? Will they be able to excuse themselves before this
Judge by saying that they did not know what they were doing ?
or that what they did was for want of reflection, or in jest? or
that they were not strong, and could not bear much? Will not
such excuses rather witness against them that they are the more
worthy of punishment for having taken more than their strength
could bear, thereby depriving themselves of the use of reason,
making themselves like brutes, and, of their own free will, tak
ing on themselves the responsibility for all the sins of which
their drunkenness was the occasion?
What, then, awaits them? What else than the fate of the
rich glutton who, for his gluttony, was buried in hell? (Luke
xvi. 22.) Yes, that shall be the place and the portion of the
drunkard ! There shall they in vain sigh for a drop of water.
There, for all the pleasures and satisfactions which they had in
the world, as many pains and torments shall now lay hold of
them (Apoc. xviii. 7) ; there shall they be compelled to drain
the cup of God's anger to the dregs, as they, in life, forced
others into drunkenness. This is what they have to hope for,
for St. Paul says expressly that drunkards shall not possess the
kingdom of God (i. Cor. vi. 10). What then remains for them
but to renounce either their intemperance or heaven?
272 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
But how rare and difficult is the true conversion of a drunk
ard ! This is the teaching of experience. Will not such a one,
therefore, go to ruin?
GOSPEL. Luke xv. 1-10.
At that time the publicans and sinners drew near unto Jesus
to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured,
saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
And He spoke to them this parable, saying : "What man of you
that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them,
doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that
which was lost until he find it ? And when he hath found it,
lay it upon his shoulders rejoicing ; and coming home call to
gether his friends and neighbors, saying to them : Rejoice with
me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to
you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner
that doth penance, m^re than upon ninety-nine just who need
not penance. Or what woman having ten groats, if she lose
one groat, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek
diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, call
together her friends and neighbors, saying: Rejoice with me,
because I have found the groat which I had lost. So I say to
you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner
doing penance.
Why did the Pharisees murmur ?
Because they thought themselves better than other men, and
as they avoided the company of sinners themselves, they re
quired others to do likewise. They did not know, or rather did
not wish to know, that a truly just man always feels compassion
for sinners, and that the saints always desired and endeavored to
promote their conversion and eternal welfare. " True justice,"
says St. Gregory, " has compassion for sinners, while false
and hypocritical justice is angry with them." Love sinners,
therefore, in imitation of Jesus, and pray earnestly for their
conversion.
What does the parable of the lost sheep teach us?
It teaches us the love of Jesus, Who seeks out sinners, brings
them back to the Father, and reinstates them in the privileges
of the children of God. We find in this parable an excuse for
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 273
sinners. The sheep is a very simple animal which, while graz
ing in the field, does not notice that it has left the fold. It is
lost, and when lost does not know the way back to the fold. It
seems, therefore, when Christ compared the sinner to a sheep
He intended to say that the sinner goes astray from the true
path and from God through pure and natural ignorance ; because
being dazzled and delighted by the things of the world, he fol
lows them ; he separates himself from the just without knowing-
it, and, lost in the desert of this world, he does not know his
misfortune and has not, humanly speaking, the means of return
ing again, if God in His infinite mercy does not go in search of
him and rescue him.
What is meant by the words, " there shall be more joy over
one sinner that does penance than upon ninety-nine just who
need not penance ' ' ?
Thereby it is not to be understood that the penitent sinner
is more pleasing to God than ninety-nine just, but that, as men
have a special joy in finding that which they supposed to be
lost, so also God, the angels, and saints have an extraordinary
joy over the conversion of one sinner ; because, in the conver
sion of the sinner, they see the glory, love, and power of God
exalted.
Aspiration.
O Lord, what profit hast Thou in the conversion of a sinner,
that Thou art thereby so greatly pleased? The happiness of
one of Thy poor creatures can add nothing to Thine own. But
Thou lovest me, and therefore it is that Thou art pleased if I
return to Thee. O my God, is it possible that I can know this
Thy love, and remain any longer in sin?
jfourtb Sunfcas after Pentecost*
-"TTTTTH confidence in God's fatherly protection, say, with the
V V priest, in the Introit of the Mass, " The Lord is my
light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? My enemies
that trouble me have themselves been weakened and have fallen.
274 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart
shall not fear " (Ps. xxvi. 1-3). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer,
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the course of the
world, by Thy direction, may, in our regard, be peaceful ; and
that Thy Church may rejoice in tranquil devotion. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. viii. 18-23.
Brethren : I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be re
vealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the
revelation of the sons of God For the creature was made sub
ject to vanity not willingly, but by reason of Him that made it
subject, in hope: because the creature also itself shall be deliv
ered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory
of the children of God. For we know that every creature groan-
eth, and travaileth in pain even till now. And not only it, but
ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the spirit : even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the
sons of God, the redemption of our body : in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Brief Lessons.
There is no better consolation under crosses and afflictions
than the thought that all the troubles of this world are not to be
compared with the glory to come, and "that which is at present
momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above
measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory" (n. Cor. iv. 17).
And, therefore, St. Bede says: "If we had to bear for awhile
the pains of hell, it would not appear so hard, if thereby we
might merit to see Christ in His glory, and to be added to His
saints."
GOSPEL. Luke v. 1-11.
At that time, when the multitudes pressed upon Jesus to
hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Genesareth.
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen
were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And going
into one of the ships that was Simon's, He desired him to draw
back a little from the land. And sitting, He taught the multi-
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
275
tildes out of the ship. Now when He had ceased to speak, He
said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your
nets for a draught. And Simon answering said to Him : Master,
we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing : but at
Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done
this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their
net broke. And they beckoned to their partners that were in
the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they
came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking :
which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' s knees,
saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For
he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the
draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also
James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners.
And Jesus saith to Simon : Fear not : from henceforth thou shalt
catch men. And having brought their ships to land, leaving all
things, they followed Him.
What may we learn from the multitudes who pressed on Jesus
to hear the word of God?
That we, also, should hear the word of God with great
zeal, since it conveys to men the life of the soul and eternal
happiness.
276 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Why did Our Saviour teach the multitude out of the ship of
St. Peter?
That, as the ship is the figure of the Church, so we can re
ceive the true doctrine from that Church only of which Peter was
the head (John xxi. 15 — 17). Amid all storms Jesus has
preserved, and will preserve, this ship of His Church, till the
end of time (Matt. xvi. 18). Peter yet stands at the helm, in
the unbroken line of his successors ; Jesus yet teaches from the
ship the same doctrines as before, by the mouth of bishops and
priests, the assistants of St. Peter's successors, and whoever hears
them hears Him. Hear them, therefore, with willingness and
docility.
What was signified by the great draught of fishes which the
apostles took, by the command of Jesus, after they had labored
the whole night in vain?
To the disciples it was a type of their vocation, a pledge of
their successful labors, and at the same time a lesson how to labor
so as to gain fruits. The exceeding and wonderful abundance of
the draught of fishes was to assure them that their zealous labors
to save souls should, in like manner, be crowned with rich suc
cess. That, after laboring all the night in vain, they should at
once take so many fish, when they let down their nets at the word
of Jesus, was to be to them a lesson never to be forgotten, that
they could work with blessing and success only by relying, not
on their own skill and painstaking, but only on the might and bless
ing of the Lord.
What other lessons are to be drawn from this gospel?
We learn that nothing has any value before God which is
done from mere natural inclination and human respect, that our
labors are without merit if not undertaken in the name of God,
but that He does not permit the least work to be in vain when
undertaken without hesitation, relying on His assistance and for
His sake. That the disciples obeyed so quickly, teaches us to obey
God at once, to spare no sacrifice, to leave all quickly, and not
to put off till to-morrow what is to be done to-day. Finally,
we may learn not to be proud of the success of our labor, but, like
Peter, to give glory to God, Who does such great things, by
cheerfully leaving all earthly things to follow Him.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 277
if iftb Sunfcag atter Pentecost
•TTT^ITH the priest in the Introit of the Mass, let us implore God's
»' assistance, and say: "Hear, O Lord, my voice, with
which I have cried to Thee ; be Thou my helper, forsake n 3 not,
do not Thou despise me, O God, my Saviour. The Lord is my
light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" (Ps. xxvi. 7, 9,
1.) Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast prepared invisible goods for them that
love Thee, infuse into our hearts the affection of Thy love, that
loving Thee in all things and above all, we may obtain Thy
promises which surpass every desire. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Peter iii. 8-15.
Dearly Beloved: Be ye all of one mind, having compassion
one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, mod
est, humble : not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing,
but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that
you may inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips
that they speak no guile. Let him decline from evil, and do
good : let him seek after peace, and pursue it : because the eyes
of the^Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers :
but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.
And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good?
But if also you suffer anything for justice' sake, blessed are ye.
And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled ; but
sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts.
How may and ought we to sanctify the Lord Jesus in our
hearts?
By faithfully imitating Him ; for thereby we become His
true and faithful disciples, honor Him, sanctify ourselves and
edify others, who by our good example are led to admire Chris
tianity, and Christ its founder, and to become His followers.
GOSPEL. Matt. v. 20-24.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: I tell you, unless
your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees,
278 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have
heard that it was said to them of old : Thou shalt not kill : and
whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I
say to you : that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be
in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whoso
ever shall say, Thou fool : shall be in danger of hell fire. If
therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou re
member that thy brother hath anything against thee: leave
there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled
to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
In what did the justice of the Pharisees consist?
They were very pious in outward appearance, and avoided
those vices which caused temporal disgrace and injury; but,
on the other hand, they were full of malice in their hearts,
and this Christ often reproached them with, calling them hypo
crites.
How are we to understand what Christ says about anger and
using abusive words?
The meaning of His words is, " You have heard from your
teachers and doctors of the law, that whosoever shall kill shall
be in danger of the judgment of men ; but I say to you, who
think it no sin to be angry or envious, that whosoever is angry
with his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judg
ment of God. You have heard that whosoever calls his brother
fool, shall be brought before the council and punished; but I
say to you, that God punishes with hell fire every grievous
offence against your neighbor, as also the hatred and enmity of
your heart towards Him."
Why must one first be reconciled to his brother before he
offers his gift at the altar, or undertakes any good work?
Because no offering, or other good work, can be pleasing to
God so long as we are living in enmity, hatred, and strife with
our neighbor, and thereby going directly against His will and
example.
Remedies for Anger.
The first and best means to overcome anger is humility;
to become thus humble, gentle, and patient, one must often
consider the example of Christ, Who endured so many contra-
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 279
dictions, persecutions, and insults, without reviling again when
reviled Himself, and without threatening vengeance to any one
for all He suffered. An excellent preventive to anger is, to
think over in the morning what causes will be likely to draw us
into anger at any time during the day, and to guard ourselves
against them beforehand, by a firm resolution to bear every
thing patiently for the love of God ; and then, when anything
vexatious occurs and excites our anger, to say and do nothing
so long as the anger lasts.
How shall we be reconciled with our enemies?
Not only with the lips but from the heart, and with sin
cerity and promptness. " Is he absent whom you have
wronged," says St. Augustine, "so that you cannot easily reach
him? humble yourself then before God, and ask His pardon be
fore you offer your gift, with a firm resolution to be reconciled
with your enemy as soon as possible."
INSTRUCTION ON SWEARING.
To swear is to call upon God, upon His truth, His justice,
or other attributes, or upon His creatures, in the name of God,
as witnesses of the truth.
Is swearing lawful, and when?
Yes, when necessity demands it, and when the matter sworn
to is true and just : when a man thus swears he imitates God,
honors Him as all-holy, all-wise, all- just, and contributes to the
triumph of justice and innocence. On the other hand, great
sins are committed: 1. By those who swear in a false and un
just cause, which may be, besides, of little moment; for they
call upon God as a witness to falsehood and wrong, thus violat
ing His truth and justice. 2. By those who swear in a good
cause, but without necessity or a sufficient reason ; for it is cer
tainly unseemly to call God as witness on every trivial occasion.
3. In like manner, they sin grievously and constantly who have
become so habituated to swearing as to break out into oaths,
without so much as knowing or thinking whether the thing is
true or false, whether they will keep their word or not ; where
by they expose themselves to great danger, both because they
run the risk of swearing falsely, and also because they frivo- •
lously abuse the name of God, of His saints, and of His works.
Every one, says St. Chrysostom, who swears often some-
280 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
times swears falsely; just as lie wlio talks a great deal some*
times utters things unseemly and improper. For this reason,
according to the opinion of St. Augustine, the Saviour forbade
Christians to swear at all (Matt. v. 34), that they might not fall
into a habit of swearing, and, by reason of that, into swearing
falsely. Whoever has this habit should take the greatest pains
to overcome it. To accomplish which, it will be useful to him
to reflect: 1. That if we have to render an account for every
idle word we speak, how much more strictly will we be judged
for needless, idle, and false oaths! " Eemember thy last end,
and thou shalt not sin." 2. To remember that persons who
swear so lightly are generally less believed than others. 3. To
repent each time that he swears, and to punish himself by a
penance.
£f£tb Sun&as after Pentecost
THE Introit of the Mass of to-day is the prayer of a soul that
confides in the powerful and benign protection of God.
4 'The Lord is the strength of His people, and the protector of
the salvation of His anointed. Save Thy people, O Lord, and
bless Thy inheritance, and rule them forever . Unto Thee will
I cry, O my God : be not Thou silent to me, lest I become
like them that go down into the pit " (Ps. xxvii. 8, 9, 1). Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God of hosts, to Whom belongeth all that is best, infuse
into our breasts the love of Thy name, and grant within us an
increase of devotion, that Thou mayest nourish what is good,
and by the pursuit of piety preserve what Thou hast nourished.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. vi. &-11.
Brethren : All we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are
baptized in His death. For we are buried together with Him
by baptism unto death : that as Christ is risen from the dead by
the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His
death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the
body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 281
no longer. For he that is dead is justified from sin. Now if
we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also to
gether with Christ : knowing that Christ rising again from the
dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion
over Him. For in that He died to sin, He died once : but in
that He liveth, He liveth unto God. So do you also reckon
that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Explanation.
St. Paul here exhorts us that as through baptism we become
members of Christ's mystical body, what was accomplished in
Him actually must also take place in us spiritually. As Jesus
died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and ascended into
heaven, so also must we, once risen from sin, live henceforth to
God, a new, holy life, conformed to that of Christ.
GOSPEL. Mark viii. 1-9.
At that time, when there was a great multitude with Jesus,
and they had nothing to eat, calling His disciples together, He
saith to them : I have compassion on the multitude ; for behold
they have now been with Me three days, and have nothing to
eat. And if I shall send them away fasting to their home, they
will faint in the way : for some of them came from afar off.
And His disciples answered Him : From whence can any one
fill them here with bread in the wilderness? And He asked
them : How many loaves have ye? Who said : Seven. And He
commanded the multitude to sit down upon the ground. And
taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, He broke, and gave to
His disciples for to set before them, and they set them before
the people. And they had a few little fishes and He blessed
them, and commanded them to be set before them. And they
did eat and were filled, and they took up that which was left of
the fragments, seven baskets. And they that had eaten were
about four thousand : and He sent them away.
Why did Jesus say, ' ' I have compassion on the multitude, ' '
etc.?
To confirm by acts what He had previously, through St.
Matthew (Matt. vi. 33), taught in words, namely, that to
them who seek first the kingdom of God and His justice, all
other things shall be added without asking; and to show us, at
282 SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTEK PENTECOST.
the same time, the greatness of God's love, which takes ac
count of every hour spent in His service, and compassionates
every want of man. The multitude were not solicitous for food,
and had not even asked it from Him, and yet He cared for
them.
Seventb Sunfcas after Pentecost
IN the Introit of the Mass the Church invites us to the praise
of God in the following words : 4 ' Oh, clap your hands, all ye
nations, shout unto God with the voice of joy, for the Lord is
most high, He is terrible : He is a great king over all the earth "
(Ps. xlvi. 2, 3). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Whose providence never faileth in what it doth
order, we humbly beseech Thee to put away from us all tilings
hurtful, and to give us all things profitable to us. Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. vi. 19-23.
Brethren: I speak a human thing, because of the infirmity
of your flesh : for as you have yielded your members to serve
uncleanness and iniquity unto iniquity, so now yield your mem
bers to serve justice unto sanctification. For when you were
the servants of sin you were free men to justice. What fruit
therefore had you then in those things of which you are now
ashamed? For the end of them is death. But now being
made free from sin, and become servants of God, you have
your fruit unto sanctification, and the end life everlasting.
For the wages of sin is death ; but the grace of God, life ever
lasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Explanation.
In these words St. Paul admonishes the Eomans that they
ought henceforward to devote themselves as zealously to the ser
vice of God as they had hitherto done to that of iniquity, be
cause the service of sin is death, but the service of God is life
everlasting. The words ' c servants, to serve, ' ' denote the full
and unconditional subjection of the Christian to God, without
walking any longer according to his own will, just as, in regard
to the state of sin, they indicate the dominion of the passions
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 283
over the sinner. There is no requirement more reasonable than
that a man should labor as much for God and his own salvation
as he has labored for sin and hell. We should, therefore, often
think on the wages of sin — eternal death ; and when we are
tempted, ask ourselves, " What shall I gain by my lust, my in
justice, my vengeance? Ah, nothing but eternal death! And
shall I, created to inherit eternal life, shall I make myself the
heir of eternal death? "
GOSPEL. Matt. vii. 15-21.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves : by their fruits you shall know them.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so
every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree
bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit : neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit : every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and shall
be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know
them. Not every one that saith to Me : Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven : but he that doth the will of My
Father Who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
Who are meant by ' ' false prophets ' ' ?
1. The world, which promises us honors and riches, but in
the end rewards our toil and labor with disgrace and scorn. 2.
The flesh, which promises pleasures and joys, but at last leaves
nothing but the bitter reproaches of an unquiet conscience. 3.
The devil, who promises us a long life, and time for repentance,
while the obdurate sinner is cut off suddenly in the midst of his
days. 4. All such evil-minded persons as conceal their wicked
purposeb under the mask of virtue and honesty, until they have
entrapped unwary souls, and drawn them into all kinds of shame
ful misdeeds. It is these false prophets of Satan, and wolves of
hell, that make the greatest havoc in the flock of Christ.
Why does Christ say, " every tree that bringeth not forth
good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire " ?
He thereby warns us that faith alone, without good works,
or, in other. words, the mere desire for heaven without the
practice of virtue, will not save us. Christ says plainly, " Not
284 SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
every one that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of My Father
Who is in heaven." Jesus also saith, " Whosoever shall do the
will of My Father Who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister,
and mother" (Matt. xii. 50). Endeavor, therefore, O Chris
tian, to fulfil in all things the will of God, and secure thy salva
tion by the exercise of good works.
INSTRUCTION ON GOOD WORKS.
What are good works?
All actions of men which are done according to the will of
God, from love of Him, and by the help of grace.
Which are the principal good works?
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer including all
acts belonging to the service of God ; fasting, all mortifications
of the body ; almsgiving, all works of mercy.
How many are the works of mercy?
Two : corporal and spiritual.
Which are the spiritual works of mercy?
Those which have for their object the salvation of our neigh
bor; as, 1, to admonish the sinner; 2, to instruct the ignorant;
3, to counsel the doubtful; 4, to comfort the afflicted; 5, to
bear wrongs patiently ; 6, to forgive injuries and offences ; 7, to
pray for the living and the dead.
Which are the corporal works of mercy?
1, To feed the hungry; 2, to give drink to the thirsty; 3,
to clothe the naked; 4, to visit the prisoners; 5, to shelter the
houseless; 6, to visit the sick; 7, to bury the dead (Matt. xxv.
42, 43).
What is necessary to render works meritorious?
1, They must be good in themselves; 2, they must be done
by the grace of God; 3, in the state of grace; 4, by free will;
5, with the good intention of pleasing God.
Can we be saved without good works?
No; for Christ says expressly, " Every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit shall be cut down and shall be cast into
the fire." And that servant in the Gospel (Matt. xxv. 25) who
neither wasted his talent nor yet traded with it, but digged into
the earth and hid his lord's money, was therefore cast into the
outer darkness.
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 285
Eigbtb SunfcaE after Pentecost
IN the Introit of the Mass the Church praises God, Whose
mercy and justice extend to the ends of the world. " We
have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.
According to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the
ends of the earth ; Thy right hand is full of justice. Great is
the Lord and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of our God,
in His holy mountain" (Ps. xlvii. 11, 1).
Prayer.
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, at all times, the spirit
of thinking and doing what is right, that we, who cannot exist
without Thee, may be able to live according to Thy will.
Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. viii. 12-17.
Brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according
to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you shall
die : but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you
shall live. For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of
bondage again in fear, but you have received the spirit of adop
tion of sons, whereby we cry Abba (Father). For the Spirit
Himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of
God. And if sons, heirs also : heirs indeed of God, and joint
heirs with Christ.
" The works of the flesh are," according to St. Paul, " forni
cation, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts,
enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions,
sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, re veilings, and such like"
(Gal. v. 19, 20). Those who practise such vices are not chil
dren of God, and will inherit, not heaven, but eternal death.
Examine yourself, therefore, whether you are not living accord
ing to the flesh, and for the future resist sinful desires with
God's assistance, and you will gain a crown in heaven.
Aspiration.
Grant me, 0 Lord, Thy spirit, that I may always remember
the happiness of Thy kingdom, may mortify the lusts of the
flesh, and may walk as Thy child in holy chastity.
286 EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
GOSPEL. Luke xvi. 1-9.
At that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable :
There was a certain rich man who had a steward : and the same
was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. And he
called him, and said to him : How is it that I hear this of thee?
give an account of thy stewardship : for now thou canst be
steward no longer. And the steward said within himself : What
shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the steward
ship? To dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed. I know
what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the steward
ship, they may receive me into their houses. Therefore calling
together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first :
How much dost thou owe my lord? But he said: An hundred
barrels of oil. And he said to him : Take thy bill and sit down
quickly, and write fifty. Then he said to another : And how
much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of
wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill and write eighty. And
the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had
done wisely : for the children of this world are wiser in their
generation than the children of light. And I say to you : Make
unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity, that when you
shall fail they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.
Who are meant by the rich man and his steward?
By the rich man is meant God ; by the steward, man. The
goods intrusted to the steward are the different goods and gifts
of soul and body, of nature and of grace.
Why did Christ use this parable?
To teach us that God requires of every man a strict account
of whatever has been given to him, to encourage us to be liberal
to the poor, and to warn us against dissipation and injustice.
How are we to understand the direction "to make unto us
friends of the mammon of iniquity " ?
Riches are called the mammon of iniquity because they so
easily lead us to injustice, avarice, excess, and dissipation.
Jesus intended to say that we should, according to our ability,
employ in doing good those worldly goods which so easily carry
us into sin. But He is not to be understood as saying that we
should steal, or cheat, or use goods otherwise unjustly obtained,
to give alms.
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 287
What friends are we thus to make?
The friends are : the good works which render us pleasing
to God, and open to us heaven; the poor, the saints of God;
the angels, who rejoice in our benevolence, and become our in
tercessors; and finally Christ, Who regards what is given to the
poor as so much given to Himself (Matt. xxv. 40). "The
hands of the poor," says St. Chrysostom, " are the hands of
Christ ; through them we send our goods to heaven beforehand,
and through their intercession we obtain the grace of salvation. ' '
Aspiration.
Grant me, O most just God and Judge, grace so to use the
goods intrusted to me on earth, that with them I may make my
self friends to receive me, at the end of my life, into everlasting
habitations.
INSTRUCTION ON CALUMNY.
Is calumny a grievous sin?
When the occasion is important, and the slander is deliber
ately uttered, with evil intention, when one's neighbor is thereby
grievously injured, and his good name damaged, every one may
see how grievous and detestable, in such a case, this sin is.
Is it sinful to disclose the faults of our neighbor?
To make public the faults and sins of our neighbor uselessly,
merely for the entertainment of idle persons, is always sinful.
But if, after trying in vain to correct his faults and sins by
brotherly admonition, we make them known to his parents or
superiors, for his punishment and amendment, so far from being
a sin, it is rather a good work and a duty of Christian charity.
Is it a sin also to listen willingly to calumny ?
Yes ; for thereby we furnish the calumniator an occasion for
sin and give him encouragement. For which reason St. Bernard
says: " Whether to calumniate be a greater sin than to listen to
the calumniator I will not lightly decide."
What ought to restrain us from calumny?
The thought, 1, of the enormity of this sin; 2, of the num
ber of sins occasioned thereby of which the calumniator, as the
occasion of them, becomes partaker; 3, of the difficulty of cor
recting the harm done, since we cannot know the full extent of
the injury, nor stop the tongues of people. Finally, we must
288 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
think on the eternal punishment which follows this sin. The
holy Fathers say that of young persons who are condemned
the greater part is for impurity, but of the old, for calumny.
Aspiration.
Watch over me, O most loving Jesus, that I may not be so
blinded, either through hatred or envy, as to destroy by calumny
the good name of my neighbor, and thereby make myself guilty
of so grievous a sin.
Wfntb Sunfcas after Pentecost
CALL upon God for help and assistance against all temptations
of your enemies, both visible and invisible, and say with
the priest, in the Introit of the Mass, " Behold, God is my
helper, and the Lord is the protector of my soul ; turn back the
evils upon my enemies, and cut them off in Thy truth, O Lord,
my protector. Save me, O God, by Thy name, and deliver me
in Thy strength" (Ps. liii.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Let the ears of Thy mercy, O Lord, be open to the prayers of
Thy suppliants, and that Thou mayest grant what Thy petition
ers desire, make them ask those things which are pleasing to Thee.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. x. 6-13.
Brethren: We should not covet evil things, as they also
coveted. Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them : as it is
written : The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to
play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them com
mitted fornication, and there fell in one day three and twenty
thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ : as some of them tempted,
and perished by the serpents. Neither do you murmur: as
some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Now all these things happened to them in figure : and they are
written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are
come. Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take
heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such
as is human : and God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that which you are able, but will make also with
temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 289
Can we sin by thought and desire alone?
Certainly, if we desire evil and unlawful things, or of our
own free will dwell upon them with pleasure.
"What is it to tempt God?
It is presumptuously to expect signs of God's omnipotence,
benignity, providence, and justice. Such a sin it would be, 1,
to desire that matters of faith should be made known and confirmed
by new miracles ; 2, to expose ourselves unnecessarily to danger
of body or soul, expecting God to deliver us ; 3, to reject the
ordinary and natural means of deliverance in sickness or other
peril, trusting in God's immediate assistance.
GOSPEL. Luke xix. 41-47.
At that time, when Jesus drew near Jerusalem, seeing the city,
He wept over it, saying: If thou also hadst known, and that in
this thy day, the things that are to thy peace, but now they are
hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee : and thy
enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round :
and straiten thee on every side : and beat thee flat to the ground,
and thy children who are in thee, and they shall not leave in
thee a stone upon a stone : because thou hast not known the time
of thy visitation. And entering into flie temple, He began to
cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought, saying to
them : It is written : My house is the house of prayer ; but you
have made it a den of thieves. And He was teaching daily in
the temple.
x
Why did the Saviour weep over the city of Jerusalem?
Because it had not known and profited by its time of visita
tion, and through impenitence was hastening to destruction.
What was the time of its visitation?
The period in which God sent to the J ews one prophet after
another, whom they derided and calumniated, stoned and put to
death (Matt, xxiii. 34). But especially was it the time of
the ministry of Christ, Who so often proclaimed His life-giving
doctrine ; pointed out and demonstrated, by the greatest miracles,
that He was the Messias and the Saviour of the world, and yet
was despised by this hardened and impenitent city, and even put
to death on the cross.
Does God hide from the wicked the truths of salvation?
290 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
No ; but sinners so blind themselves by their sins that the
divine inspirations fail to move them to penance.
What do we learn by Jesus casting out of the temple those
who sold and bought?
We learn how severely He will punish those who in church
forget where they are ; forget that Jesus Christ is present in the
tabernacle; who laugh, talk, amuse themselves, cherish sinful
thoughts, and give scandal by their improper dress and unbe
coming behavior.
Prayer.
O Jesus, Who didst weep over the city of Jerusalem because
it knew not the time of its visitation, I beseech Thee enlighten
my heart, that I may know and profit by the season of grace ;
and grant that I may always behave with reverence in Thy
church, and never turn it into a resort for evil thoughts and de
sires or for worldly cares.
LESSONS UPON DEATH-BED REPENTANCE.
Can the sinner rely upon being converted at the end of his
life?
By no means : for this would be to sin against the mercy of
God, which is much the same as the sin against the Holy Ghost.
" God," says St. Augustine, " usually punishes such sinners by
allowing them at the last to forget themselves, who in the days
of their health and strength have allowed themselves to forget
Him." God Himself also says: " They have turned their back
to Me and not their face, and in the time of their affliction they
will say, Arise and deliver us. Where are thy gods whom thou
hast made thee? Let them arise and deliver thee in the time of
thy affliction" (Jer. ii. 27, 28). It is true we have a consoling
example of conversion at the moment of death in the penitent
thief, but, as St. Augustine further says, while this one example
is given so that no sinner may despair, it is the only one, so
that no sinner may defer repentance through presumption.
What may we hope of those who are converted at the close
of life?
Everything that is good, if they be really converted ; but this
is a most rare thing. c ( Of the hundreds of thousands whose
lives have been wicked," writes St. Jerome, " hardly one will
be converted at the hour of death, and obtain forgiveness of
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 291
his sins." And St. Vincent Ferrer says it would be a greater
miracle for a person who has lived wickedly to die well than
for one who is dead to be restored to life. And no wonder ;
for repentance at the hour of death is generally but an extorted
repentance. It is not so much that the sinner forsakes his
sins as that his sins forsake him ; and the resolution of amend
ment is one which he would hardly make, were he not driven to
it by the agonies of death. What is there to expect from such
a repentance?
When, therefore, ought we to do penance?
While we are in possession of our reason and strength ; for,
as St. Augustine says, the repentance of the sick is a sickly
repentance. In time of sickness, as experience teaches, the
pains of disease, the hope of recovery, the fear of death, the
torments of conscience, the temptations of the devil, and
the care of all depending on him, so continually distract a
man that he can hardly collect his thoughts at all, much
less bestow them upon a work of a true repentance. If to
many it is so difficult to do penance while they are yet in
health, and hindered by nothing from raising their thoughts to
God, how much more difficult will it be when the body has
already become weak ! We have heard a number of persons
who had been sick admit after their recovery that they had no
knowledge of what happened to them during their illness, and
even had no recollection of having received the holy sacra
ments. Accordingly, Isaias admonishes us : " Seek ye the Lord
while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near' ' (Isaias
Iv. 6). And Christ says : i ' You shall seek Me and shall not
find Me, and you shall die in your sin " (John vii. 34 ; viii. 21).
If, therefore, you have committed mortal sin, delay not to
return to God, by perfect contrition and a good confession.
Put it not off from one day to another ; for repentance thereby
becomes more and more difficult ; for, as St. Gregory says, one
unrepented sin by its own weight impels a man to still further
sins, and all the while makes him the weaker, and his adversary,
the devil, the stronger ; so that at last he cannot be converted
without the extraordinary grace of God. But how can the pre
sumptuous sinner expect such grace? God will laugh in his
destruction, in like manner as he has despised His instruc
tion, counsel, and reproof (Prov. i. 26-28). " Therefore, whilst
292 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
we have time, let us work good " (Gal. vi. 10), for who knows
whether we may not be suddenly prevented, by severe sickness,
from working out our salvation !
Uentb Sunfcas after Pentecost*
T the Introit of the Mass, join with the Church in ex
tolling the help of God, whereby we are defended
against our enemies. " When I cried to the Lord, He heard
my voice from them that draw near against me, and He hum
bled them, Who is before all ages, and remains forever. Cast
thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. Hear, O
God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication; be atten
tive to me, and hear me." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who dost particularly manifest Thy omnipotence
by sparing and showing mercy, multiply Thy mercy towards
us, that running to the possession of what Thou hast promised,
Thou mayest make us partakers of heavenly goods. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xii. 2-11.
Brethren : You know that when you were heathens, you
went to dumb idols, according as you were led. Wherefore I
give you to understand, that no man, speaking by the Spirit of
God, saith Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say, the
Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities
of graces, but the same Spirit: and there are diversities of
ministries, but the same Lord: and there are diversities of
operations, but the same God, Who worketh all in all. And
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto
profit. To one, indeed, by the Spirit, is given the word of
wisdom : and to another the word of knowledge, according to
the same Spirit : to another faith in the same Spirit : to an
other the grace of healing, in one Spirit : to another the work
ing of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning
of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to another inter
pretation of speeches. But all these things one and the same
Spirit worketh, dividing to every one according as He will.
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
293
Explanation.
As the Holy Ghost gave on Pentecost the gift of tongues,
so also He imparted to the faithful many other gifts. This
Holy Spirit works in different ways. He confers not only or
dinary but extraordinary graces on whom He will, and how
He will, as He finds it for the edification of the body of Christ,
and whatever gift any one receives he must use for the glory of
God and the salvation of souls, without being elated by it, since
he has received it only as a pure grace.
GOSPEL. Luke xviii. 9-14.
At that time, to some who trusted in themselves as just,
And despised others, Jesus spoke this parable : Two men went
up into the temple to pray : the one a Pharisee, and the other a
publican. The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus with himself :
O God, I give Thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men :
extortioners, unjust, adulterers : as also is this publican ; I fast
twice in a week ; 1 give tithes of all that I possess. And the
publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his
eyes towards heaven : but struck his breast, saying : O God,
294 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
be merciful to me a sinner ! I say to you, this man went down
into his house justified rather than the other, because every one
that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
Why did Jesus recite the parable of the Pharisee and the
publican ?
To warn us against pride, ambition, and vanity in our good
works, which thereby lose all their merits ; to teach us not to
despise or judge any man, although he should appear most im
pious ; finally, to show us that if we would be heard in our
prayers, we must appear before God with an humble and peni
tent heart.
Why was not the Pharisee's prayer acceptable to God?
Because it was not a prayer, but rather a boast ; for he praised
himself, attributing his good works to himself, instead of giv
ing God glory for them. Thus despising and presumptuously
judging others, he sinned the more against God, instead of
making himself worthy of his praise.
Why was the prayer of the publican acceptable to God?
Because, though short, it was most humble and penitent.
He did not, like the Pharisee, advance into the temple, but
remained afar off, as though unworthy the presence of God and
the fellowship of men. There he stood, with eyes cast down,
in token that, for his sins, he was not worthy to look up to
heaven; nay, he openly confessed himself a sinner, and in
sorrow smote his breast, thereby punishing, as it were, says St.
Augustine, the sins which had come from his heart.
Let us, then, be afraid of vainglory, like St. Ignatius, who
said, < ' They who praise me scourge me " ; and St. Hilary,
who wept when he saw himself honored, because he was afraid
of receiving his reward on earth. Learn to despise vainglory,
and think of what St. Augustine says : ' ' God is most high ;
exalt yourself, and He withdraws from you; humble yourself,
and He comes down to you." Seek in all things not your
own but God's glory; accustom yourself before every under
taking to raise your heart to God by making a good intention,
and you will, like the publican, find grace before God.
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 295
)£lev>entb SunfcaE after Pentecost
AT the Introit of the Mass, with the priest, pray God for
brotherly love, and for protection against enemies, within
and without. u God, in His holy place ; God, Who maketh men
of one mind to dwell in a house, He shall give power and strength
to His people. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered ;
and let them that hate Him flee before His face " (Ps. Ixvii.).
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
0 almighty and everlasting God, Who in the abundance of
Thy mercy dost exceed the desires and deserts of Thy suppli
ants, pour forth Thy mercy upon us, that Thou mayest forgive
what our conscience fears, and grant what our prayer does not
presume to ask. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xv. 1-10.
1 make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I
preached to you, which also you have received, and wherein
you stand, by which also you are saved : if you hold fast after
what manner I preached unto you, unless you have believed in
vain. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also
received : how that Christ died for our sins, according to the
Scriptures : and that He was buried, and that He rose again the
third day, according to the Scriptures : and that He was seen by
Cephas, and after that by the eleven. Then was He seen by
more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom many re
main until this present, and some are fallen asleep. After that
He was seen by James, then by all the apostles: and last of all,
He was seen also by me as by one born out of due time. For I
am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the
grace of God I am what I am : and His grace in me hath not
been void.
Explanation.
This epistle teaches us that as the holy apostle Paul was not
elated with vanity by the revelations he had received from God,
but rather felt himself unworthy of them, ascribing it to God's
grace that he was what he was, even so the truly humble man
296 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
thinks little of himself, is willing to be despised by others, and
gives glory to God alone.
Such humility is a most difficult lesson to our sensual nature.
But are we not sinners, and far greater sinners. than St. Paul was?
and shall we then esteem ourselves highly ? And granting that we
have not to reproach ourselves with any great sins, and have
even done much good, is it not presumption and robbery to claim
for ourselves what belongs to grace? Let us learn, therefore,
to be humble, and to count ourselves always unprofitable ser
vants.
Aspiration.
O most humble Saviour, banish from my heart the spirit of
pride, and impart to me the most necessary grace of humility.
Give me grace to know that, of myself, I can do nothing that is
pleasing to Thee, that all my sufficiency for good comes from
Thee, and that Thou workest in us both to will and to accomplish
(n. Cor. iii. 5; Phil. ii. 13).
GOSPEL. Mark vii. 31-37.
At that time, Jesus, going out of the coasts of Tyre, came
by Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts
of Decapolis. And they bring to Him one deaf and dumb :
and they besought Him that He would lay His hand upon him.
And taking him from the multitude apart, He put His fingers
into his ears, and spitting, He touched his tongue: and look
ing up to heaven, He groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta,
which is, Be thou opened. And immediately his ears were
opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke
right. And He charged them that they should tell no man.
But the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal
did they publish it : and so much the more did they wonder,
saying : He hath done all things well ; He hath made both the
deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Who among Christians are like the deaf and dumb of this
gospel?
Those who are deaf to the voice of God, and dumb in prayer,
in the praise of God, in the defence of religion, and of the good
name of their neighbor, and in confessing their sins.
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 297
Why did Christ take the deaf and dumb man aside?
Because He did not seek the praise of men, and at the same
time was loath to provoke too soon the hatred of His enemies.
Why did Jesus put His fingers into the ears of the deaf and
dumb, and spitting, touch his tongue?
To show this unfortunate person by signs that it was He
Who freed him from his bodily evils, and that the healing power
was not the consequence of secretly given remedies, but pro
ceeded immediately from Himself.
Why did Jesus look up to heaven and groan?
1. To show that He acted not as mere man, but that He had
received all power from His eternal Father. 2. That He might
thereby awaken and animate the deaf and dumb man to confidence
in His power and belief in His divine mission. Learn hence
to practise the beautiful virtue of compassion for others' suffer
ings, and to acknowledge that every good gift is from above.
Why did Christ charge them that they should tell no man?
That we might learn not to seek the praise of men for our
good deeds. Let us learn to make known the works of God to
His glory ; for He is continually working before our eyes every
day so many wonders, in order that we may praise His benig
nity and omnipotence.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, great physician of souls, open mine ears to attend
to Thy holy will ; loosen my tongue to proclaim and praise for
ever Thy love and goodness.
Uwelftb Suntms after Pentecost
Introit of the Mass to-day is the prayer of an afflicted soul
entreating God for assistance. " Incline to my aid, O
God; O Lord, make haste to help me; let my enemies be con
founded and ashamed who seek my soul. Let them be turned
backwards, and blush for shame, who desire evils to me."
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O almighty and merciful God, from Whose gift it comes that
Thou art worthily and laudably served by the faithful, grant us,
298 TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
we beseech Thee, to run without offence to the attainment of
Thy promises. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, ii. Cor. iii. 4^9.
Brethren : Such confidence we have through Christ towards
God : not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves,
as of ourselves : but our sufficiency is from God : Who also hath
made us fit ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter,
but in the spirit : for the letter killeth : but the spirit quickeneth.
Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon
stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his coun
tenance, which is made void : how shall not the ministration of
the Spirit be rather in glory? For if the ministration of con
demnation be glory: much more the ministration of justice
aboundeth in glory.
Explanation.
St. Paul here introduces a comparison between the priest
hood of the Old and that of the New Law, in order to show
that the dignity of the priesthood under the New Law (and conse
quently the respect and confidence due to it) as far excels the
dignity of the priesthood under the Old as the spirit does the
letter — the truth the figure. For if the ministry of Moses,
which consisted in the service of the letter, and imparted no
grace, was so glorious, how much more glorious is that priest
hood of the New Law, through which is conveyed the sanctifying
grace of God ! And how much more veneration and obedience
should accordingly br paid to the priests of the New Law !
GOSPEL. Luke x. 23-37.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : Blessed are the eyes
that see the things which you see. For I say to you that many
prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see,
and have not seen them ; and to hear the things that you hear,
and have not heard them. And behold a certain lawyer stood
up, tempting Him, and saying: Master, what must I do to
possess eternal life? But He said to him: What is written in
the law? how readest thou? He answering, said : Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole
soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind : and thy
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
299
neighbor as thyself. And He said to him : Thou hast answered
right : this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willmg to justify
himself, said to Jesus : And who is my neighbor? And Jesus
answering, said : A certain man went down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him: and,
having wounded him, went away leaving him half dead. And
it chanced that a certain priest went down the same way : and
seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he
was near the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain
Samaritan being on his journey came near him : and seeing him,
was moved with compassion. And going up to him, bound np
his wounds, pouring in oil and wine : and setting him upon his
own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And
the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and
said : Take care of him : and whatsoever thou shalt spend over
and above, I at my return will repay thee. Which of these
three in thy opinion was neighbor to him that fell among the
robbers? But he said : He that showed mercy to him. And
Jesus said to him : Go and do thou in like manner.
300 TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Why does Jesus call His disciples blessed?
Because they had the happiness which so many kings, patri
archs, and prophets had desired in vain — of seeing the Saviour
of the world, and of hearing His teaching.
What is it to love God?
To acknowledge God as the highest and most perfect good ;
to desire that He should be known, honored, loved, by all men ;
that His will should be fulfilled by all ; and so zealously to ob
serve His commandments that we would lose all the goods of
life, and even life itself, rather than transgress these commands
and be separated from God.
What does it mean to love God with the whole heart, etc. ?
" With thy whole heart" signifies with all the motions and
inclinations of the heart; "with thy whole soul, "with all the
thoughts, conceptions of the soul ; " with thy whole mind," with
all the desires, wishes, and determination of the will; "with all
thy strength, ' ' with all the powers and faculties of body and soul
—with all the acts and motions of the senses. All these should
be directed to God alone, as the last object and end of man.
How can this be done?
By doing whatever we do, whether it be mental or manual
labor, eating, drinking, or recreation, with the intention of
doing the will of God and what is pleasing to Him. By this it
is understood that idle talk, intemperance in meat and drink,
and in general all sinful works, cannot be offered to God, be
cause they are contrary to His will and therefore deserve
punishment.
Is that true love which loves God because He does us good?
That love is truly good and praiseworthy, but not perfect,
for self-interest creeps in with it.
What, then, is the perfect love of God?
When we love God only because He is in Himself the highest
good and most worthy of love. In such manner must we en
deavor to love God ; not out of self-interest, not from the ex
pectation of reward, nor yet from fear of punishment.
Can every one thus love God?
Yes ; for there is no state of life in winch we cannot refer
everything to God. Love does not require great deeds, but
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 301
that we should avoid evil, and refer everything to God ; and all
can do this.
Aspiration.
O Jesus, rich in love, Who hast so earnestly exhorted us to
the love of God and of our neighbor, engrave deep in our
hearts, we pray Thee, this commandment of love, that whatever
we do or leave undone, all our thoughts, words, and works, may
begin and end in love of Thee; and that no tribulation, tempta
tion, or danger, nor even death itself, may ever separate us from
Thee. Grant, also, that out of love to Thee we may love our
neighbor, whether friend or enemy, as ourselves, and by this
love may deserve to have Thee as a Saviour and merciful Judge.
Who is our neighbor?
Every man, be he a foreigner or a fellow-countryman, poor
or rich, of our own religion or of any other, a friend or an
enemy.
How are we to love our neighbor?
We must love our neighbor as ourselves; that is, we must
wish for him and do for him what in similar circumstances we
should desire for ourselves, and not wish for him or do to him
what we would not wish done to ourselves (Matt. vii. 12).
In what way are we particularly to practise the love of our
neighbor ?
1. By heartily rejoicing over the gifts and graces which our
neighbor has received from God, and by sympathizing with him
in misfortune ; 2. By praying God to grant to our neighbor such
gifts as St. Paul, on his knees, besought for the Ephesians, the
fulness of the knowledge of God, and of all perfection ; 3. By
overlooking and patiently bearing our neighbor's faults, dis
orders, and infirmities of every kind, as St. Paul says: " Bear
ye one another's burdens and so you shall fulfil the law of
Christ" ; 4. In general, by both the spiritual and the corporal
works of mercy.
With what intention should we love our neighbor?
We must love our neighbor in God, and for God's sake, be
cause He commands it, and because such love is pleasing to Him.
302 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
ZTbirteentb Sunfcas atter Pentecost*
~r~r~NiTE your voice with the Church in the Introit of the Mass,
U and pray for assistance against her enemies. " Have re
gard, O Lord, to Thy covenant, and forsake not, unto the end,
the souls of Thy poor : Arise, O Lord, and judge Thy cause, and
forget not the voices of them that seek Thee. O God, why hast
Thou cut us off unto the end? Why is Thy wrath enkindled
against the sheep of Thy pasture? " Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O almighty and eternal God, grant to us an increase of faith,
hope, and charity ; and that we may deserve to obtain what Thou
promisest, make us love what Thou commandest. Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. iii. 16-22.
Brethren : To Abraham were the promises made, and to his
seed. He saith not : And to his seeds, as of many : but as of
one: And to thy seed, which is Christ. Now this I say, that
the testament which was confirmed by God : the law which was
made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not annul, to
make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the
law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by
promise. Why then was the law? It was set because of trans
gressions, until the seed should come, to whom He made the
promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not of one : but God is one. Was the law
then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there
had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should
have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all
under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be
given to them that believe.
Explanation.
St. Paul shows the Galatians that they could not be justified
by the Mosaic law, but only by active faith. The promise, he
says, which God gave to Abraham, that all nations should be
saved through faith in one of his seed, pointed to Christ. Even
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
303
the Scriptures tell us that, notwithstanding the law and its sacri
fices, the Jews remained sinners; it could not, therefore, by
itself, justify man. It follows, therefore, that salvation was to
be gained only through Jesus, Who delivered men from the
Jewish law. Let us, then, by active faith in Him, make use of
this grace for eternity.
GOSPEL. Luke xvii. 11-19.
At that time, as Jesus was going to Jerusalem, He passed
through the midst of Samaria in Galilee. And as lie entered
into a certain town, there met Him ten men that were lepers
who stood afar oft' : and lifted up their voice, saying : Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us. Whom when He saw, He said : Go,
show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they
went they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw
that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying
God, and he fell on his face, before His feet, giving thanks ;
and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said : Were
not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one
found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. And
He said to him : Arise, go thy way : for thy faith hath made
thee whole.
304 THIKTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
"What, in a spiritual sense, does leprosy mean?
In a spiritual sense leprosy means sin, especially the sin of
impurity. The Jewish law divided leprosy into three kinds,
namely, that of the flesh, that of garments, and that of houses.
The leprosy of the flesh may be likened to the impure, who
easily corrupt others; the leprosy of garments, to luxury of
dress and scandalous fashions, by which not only souls are seduced
into sin, but many families and communities are brought to pov
erty and plunged into eternal ruin ; the leprosy of houses, to
places where wicked and immoral servants are kept ; where im
modest dances and plays occur, where licentious acts are com
mitted, where meetings are allowed and encouraged to the injury
of virtue and of our neighbor's honor, where assistance or advice
is given in wicked undertakings of any sort.
Why did the lepers stand afar off ?
Because it was thus commanded by the Jewish law, so that no
one might catch contagion from them. From this we learn that
we must as carefully shun scandalous persons, companies, and
houses, as we would the plague. ' c He that toucheth pitch shall
be defiled with it, and he that hath fellowship with the proud
shall put on pride" (Ecclus. xiii. 1).
Why did Jesus ask for the nine others who also were made
clean ?
To show how greatly ingratitude displeases Him. Injuries
to Himself He generally submitted to in silence ; but this ingrat
itude He would not suffer to pass uncondemned. So great a sin
is ingratitude. On this account St. Bernard says, "Ingratitude
is an enemy of the soul that destroys merit, corrupts virtue, and
prevents grace. It is a scorching wind that dries up the fountain
of the goodness and the mercy of God."
Why does God require us to be grateful?
This question St. Chrysostom answers very beautifully by say
ing : "God requires gratitude of us only that He may confer on us
new graces." Then let us not forget to thank Him morning and
evening; before and after meals; as often as you recognize His
blessing in your house, in your children, in your property, your
cattle, your fields, your fruits. St. Augustine says: "We cannot
think, speak, or write anything better or more acceptable than,
4 Thanks be to God!'"
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 305
Aspiration.
O Jesus Christ, Who, while upon earth, didst for our example
and encouragement give thanks to Thy Heavenly Father for all
things, by Thy thankfulness I beseech of Thee grace to give thanks
through Thee to our Father in heaven, at all times, for all things.
INSTRUCTION ON THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS.
" Go, show yourselves to the priests" — Luke xvii. 14.
What are Holy Orders?
A sacrament in which the priestly power is conferred on the
candidate, together with a special grace to discharge its sacred
functions.
What is the outward sign of this sacrament?
The laying on of hands and the prayer of the bishop, and the
presentation of the chalice with bread and wine, together with
the verbal communication of authority to change the bread and
wine into the body and blood of Christ, and to remit and retain
sins.
When did Christ institute this sacrament?
At the Last Supper, when, after changing the bread into His
true body, and the wine into His true blood, He said to His
apostles, "Do this for a commemoration of Me" (Luke xxii.
19).
Are Holy Orders reckoned a sacrament by the apostles?
Yes; for St. Paul admonishes His disciple Timothy to stir
up the grace of God received by the imposition of his hands.
Hereby St. Paul teaches expressly that by the imposition of the
hands of the apostles, or of the bishops, who are their successors,
the grace of God is imparted to priests, in which consists th •» sub
stance of the sacrament. Pray, then, for the priests; asiJng
fervently of God, particularly on ember- days, to give His
Church faithful pastors. Jesus Himself commands it, saying,
' ' The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few : pray ye
therefore the Lord of the harvest that He send laborers into His
harvest" (Luke x. 2).
306 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
ffourteentb Sunfcas after Pentecost.
AT the Introit of the Mass, join with the priest in awaking in
your heart a fervent desire for heaven by these words :
"Behold, O God, our protector, and look on the face of Thy
Christ; for better is one day in Thy courts above thousands.
How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul
longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord " (Ps. Ixxxiii.).
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Preserve Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with per>
petual mercy, and since without Thee mortal man goes astray,
may we be ever withheld by Thy grace from what is hurtful,
and directed to what is profitable. Through Our Lord Jesus
Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. v. 10-24.
Brethren: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the
lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit : and
the spirit against the flesh ; for these are contrary one to an
other : so that you do not the things that you would. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are, fornication, unclean -
ness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, con
tentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like, of which 1
foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such
things shall not obtain the kingdom of God. But the fruit of
the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness,
lon^1 *nimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity.
Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have
crucified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences.
"What is it to walk in the Spirit ?
It is, in all things and at all times, to follow the inspirations
of the Holy Spirit ; and not merely to abstain from the works
of the flesh, but rather to crucify the flesh and its lusts, and
earnestly to aspire after those fruits which the Holy Ghost pro-
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 307
duces in men? such as charity, peace, and joy. So shall we be
long to Christ, and become partakers of eternal life.
Is it not wonderful that while all Christians desire to belong
to Christ, and to be heirs of His kingdom, they are unwilling
to crucify the flesh with its vices and concupiscences, and to de
stroy its lusts, as though they believed this to be required only
of the clergy, whereas it is to all Christians that Christ says :
" If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow Me "? (Matt. xvi. 24.)
GOSPEL. Matt vi. 24-33.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : No man can serve
two masters : for either he will hate the one, and love the other :
or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, be not solici
tous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what
you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat, and the
body more than the raiment ? Behold the birds of the air, for
they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns : and
your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much
more value than they? And which of you by taking thought
can add to his stature one cubit? And for raiment why are you
solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they
labor not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not
even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
And if the grass of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is
cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O
ye of little faith! Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What
shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be
clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For
your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God and His justice :
and all these things shall be added unto you.
What is meant by serving God?
Doing the will of God in all things which He requires of us,
in whatever state of life we may be placed, and doing this with
fidelity, with unwearied zeal, and out of love for Him.
Who are the two masters whom we cannot serve at the same
time?
308 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
God and an inordinate desire for worldly gain. One cannot
serve both, because they demand things that are contradictory.
Who are they that serve mammon, or worldly wealth?
The avaricious, who, impelled by their longing for riches,
offend God by manifold transgressions of His commandments.
Why does Christ refer us to the birds of the air and the lilies
of the field?
To awaken in us confidence in Divine Providence. If God
feeds the young ravens (Ps. cxlvi. 9) and the birds of the air ; if
He decks so beautifully the flowers of the field, how much more
will He not care for men, whom He has created after His own
image, and adopted as His children.
Are we, then, to use no care or labor?
That by no means follows from what has been said. The
Saviour forbids only that anxiety, proceeding from little faith,
which, in striving for a maintenance, neglects God's honor and
commandments, and the good of one's soul. For the rest, God
Himself has commanded man to labor (Gen. iii. 17-19); and
St. Paul says, " If any man will not work, neither let him eat "
(n. Thess. iii. 10).
What should preserve us from excessive anxiety?
A firm and living faith that God can and will help us. That
He can is clear, because He is almighty ; that He will is certain,
for the reason that He is love — that He has promised it to us,
more than once, most expressly, and that He is faithful in keep
ing His promises.
Let us, then, trust in God, and daily renew our confidence
in Him, particularly when we say the Creed, or when, in the
Our Father, we pray, i i Give us this day our daily bread. ' '
Consolation in Poverty.
In your misery and poverty, say often, with Job: " The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; as it hath pleased
the Lord so it is done ; blessed be the name of the Lord ' ' (Job i.
21). Or seek comfort in these words: "We lead indeed a
poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God
and depart from all sin, and do that which is good " (Job iv.
23).
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 309
Warning against Usury.
Usury is that mortal sin which takes advantage of our neigh
bor's poverty and need to extort from him what is justly his
own. Would that usurers might bear in mind what the Lord
says: " What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world
and suffer the loss of his own soul? " (Matt. xvi. 26.)
jfifteenb Sunfcap after Pentecost*
THE Introit of the Mass of this day is a fervent prayer which
may be said in any need or adversity. " Bow down Thy
ear, O Lord, to me and hear me ; save Thy servant, O my God,
that trusteth in Thee ; have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have
cried to Thee all day. Give joy to the soul of Thy servant,
for to Thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul. ' ' Glory be to
the Father, etc.
Prayer.
May continued mercy purify and defend Thy Church, O
Lord ; and since without Thee it cannot remain safe, may it ever
be governed by Thy bounty ! Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. v. 25, 26; vi. 1-10.
Brethren : If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit. Let us not be made desirous of vainglory, provoking
one another, envying one another. And if a man be overtaken
in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the
spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law
of Christ. For if any man think himself to be something,
whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every one
prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only,
and not in another. For every one shall bear his own burden.
And let him that is instructed in the word communicate to him
that instructeth him, in all good things. Be not deceived : God
is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also
shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also
shall reap corruption : but he that soweth in the Spirit, of the
Spirit shall reap life everlasting. And in doing good, let us
not fail : for in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore,
310 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially
to those who are of the household of the faith.
Explanation.
From this epistle we learn that humility should teach and
admonish us to think little of ourselves — to shun self-confidence
and vainglory ; charity should incite us, on the other hand, to
be meek, loving, compassionate, and kind to every man, even
to sinners; to administer correction to the erring only with
charity, for if this be done with impertinent and insolent zeal,
we shall not only fail to correct offenders, but shall ourselves
fall into the same temptations and sins ; for God, by a common
and just judgment, allows the proud, who look down upon
others' sins, to fall into sin themselves, that they may learn to
be humble, and to have compassion upon those who have gone
astray.
Aspiration.
O St. Paul, procure for me, by thy prayers, the grace of
God, that I may continually walk in humility, may always love
my neighbor, and, in particular, may bear with patience his
faults and frailties, that so I may fulfil the law of God, and
reap an abundant harvest.
GOSPEL. Luke vii. 11-16.
At that time Jesus went into a city that is called Nairn :
and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude.
And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead
man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was
a widow : and a great multitude of the city was with her.
Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy
towards her, He said to her : Weep not. And He came near
and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still.
And He said : Young man, I say to thee, Arise. And he that
was dead sat up and began to speak. And He gave him to his
mother. And there came a fear on them all : and they glorified
God, saying : A great prophet is risen up among us : and God
hath visited His people.
Why did Christ have compassion on this widow ?
To show us that God takes forsaken and afflicted widows
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
311
under His care, and becomes Himself their comforter and
helper, and to teach us that we should do likewise. Christ had,
however, still other grounds for His compassion ; for He fore
saw in this dead youth of Nairn the death of the sinner, and in
the affliction of the mother the grief which the Church would
suffer over the spiritual loss of so many children.
"Why did Christ say to this widow, i ' Weep not ' ' ?
To intimate that He would restore her son to her, and at
the same time to teach us that we should not mourn and weep
to excess for the dead. St. Paul therefore admonishes us not
to be sorrowful in regard to the dead, as others who have no
hope of resurrection (i. Thess. iv. 12).
Why did Christ command the bearers to stand still?
To awaken their confidence and to put it beyond doubt that
the resurrection of the dead proceeded from Him. This should
teach us that a soul that is dead cannot be restored to life so
long as the passions which have caused its death, and borne it,
as it were, to the grave, are not brought to a stop.
312 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
What more do we learn from this gospel?
That no one, however young, is safe from death ; and that
every one, therefore, should be always prepared for it.
What is often the cause of early death among young persons?
1. Gluttony and intemperance; for by surfeiting and in
temperance more perish than by the sword (Ecclus. xxxvii. 34).
2. Lust. 3. Anger; "If you bite and devour one another,
take heed you be not consumed one of another" (Gal. v. 15).
From angry words often come strife and blows, and not unfre-
quently murder itself. 4. Disobedience. We have dreadful
examples to show that God has taken out of the world, early
and suddenly, disobedient children; for instance, Absalom.
Not without reason does God say to children: "Honor thy
father and mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee,
that thou mayest live a long time, and it may be well with thee
in the land " (Deut. v. 16).
ON DEATH.
Certain it is that we shall die, but uncertain the hour of our
death. Would that we might never forget this truth ; that we
might earnestly think of it every day ! How different our lives
would then be ! Have mercy, then, on thine own soul. Keep
thyself in readiness ; so live that thou mayest have no reason to
fear death. Do in thy lifetime what in the hour of death
you will wish that you had done. Die daily, with St. Paul, by
crucifying the flesh with its desires and lusts, and by voluntarily
loosening thy heart from the world, its goods, and its vanities,
before death does this for you by violence. In time of tempta
tion and passion think of these truths, and resist ; then to die
will not be too hard.
Aspiration.
I must one day die! How, then, can I live so carelessly?
Why do I so cling to the world, which I must leave? Never
again shall this be! And you, my dear friends and relatives,
I will in future love only with a love and affection sanctified and
directed to God ; such as shall not cease in death, but, like God
Himself, shall last for eternity.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 313
INSTRUCTION ON THE CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH AT BURIALS.
" Behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother: and a
great multitude of the city was with her." — Luke vii. 12.
From the people who thus accompanied the corpse of the
young man we should learn to pay the last honors to the dead,
and to follow their bodies to the grave.
"Why is the cross carried before the corpse?
To signify that the deceased confessed Christ crucified, and
departed this life believing in Him and hoping to rise again
through Him.
Why are lighted candles placed around and carried before
the coffin?
To signify that we pray the deceased may have eternal light.
This custom is very old ; for St. Cyprian, who was beheaded for
Christ's sake about sixteen hundred years ago, was carried to his
grave with lights and the singing of hymns.
Why are the coffin and grave sprinkled with holy water?
In token that the Church desires for the deceased the com
fort of God's grace in case he should be detained.
Why are the corpse and the grave incensed?
To signify that the deceased, according to his Christian vo
cation, had been " a good odor of Christ " (n. Cor. ii. 15), and to
remind the faithful that their prayers and good works should,
like the incense, go up to heaven for the deceased.
Why are psalms and hymns sung?
1. To remind us of the teaching of St. Paul, that we should
not be sorrowful on account of the dead, as are those who have
no hope of eternal life ; 2. To declare that we esteem the departed
happy on account of the rest of which henceforth they are made
partakers (Apoc. xiv. 13). This usage descends to us from the
apostles, who buried St. Stephen with the singing of psalms and
hymns.
Why are the bells rung at funerals?
To call the faithful to prayer for the dead : for adults, that
they may obtain eternal rest; for children, to thank God that
He has delivered them from all dangers and temptations, and
received them into His heavenly kingdom.
314 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Why is a cross or headstone erected over the grave?
To point out that there lies the body of a Christian and a
brother, and to remind us to pray for our friend.
I
Steteentb Sunfcas after Pentecost,
N the Introit of the Mass let us implore, with great confidence,
the mercy of God. "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I
have cried to Thee all the day ; for Thou, O Lord, art sweet,
and mild, and plenteous in mercy, to all that call upon Thee.
Bow down Thy ear to me, O Lord, and hear me, for I am needy
and poor " (Ps. Ixxxv.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
May Thy grace, O Lord, ever precede and follow us, and
make us ever intent upon good works. Through Our Lord
Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Eph. iii. 13-21.
Brethren : I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for you :
which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees to the
Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom all paternity in
heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according
to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened by His Spirit with
might unto the inward man, that Christ may dwell by faith in
your hearts : that being rooted and founded in charity, you may
be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth,
and length, and height, and depth : to know also the charity of
Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled
unto all the fulness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do all
things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according
to the power that worketh in us : to Him be glory in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus, unto all generations, world without end.
Amen.
Explanation.
St. Paul was in prison at Eome when he wrote this epistle,
and was anxious lest the Ephesians might think that the faith,
the proclaimers of which were thus persecuted, was not from
God. He therefore exhorts them to remain firm in their belief ;
assures them that his sufferings would be for their glory if they
remained as firm as he : and prays that they may be enlightened
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 315
to know the love of God — that is, what Christ had done and
suffered for us. Hence we learn to ask earnestly of God grace
to understand the mysteries of faith.
Aspiration.
O heavenly Father, according to the example of St. Paul, I
humbly pray that Thy spirit, Thy knowledge, Thy charity, may
be deeply implanted in ns, that Thou mayest possess our hearts,
and that we, filled with all the fulness of Thy grace, may serve
Thee more perfectly, and give Thee thanks forever.
GOSPEL. Luke xiv. 1-11.
At that time, when Jesus went into the house of one of
the chief of the Pharisees, on the Sabbath-day, to eat bread,
they watched Him. And behold there was a certain man be
fore Him that had the dropsy. And Jesus answering, spoke to
the lawyers and Pharisees, saying : Is it lawful to heal on the
Sabbath-day ? But they held their peace. But He, taking
him, healed him, and sent him away. And answering them,
He said : Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a
pit, and will not immediately draw him out on the Sabbath-
day ? And they could not answer Him to these things. And
He spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking
how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them :
When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first
place, lest perhaps one more honorable than thou be invited by
him, and he that inviteth thee and him, come and say to thee :
Give this man place : and then thou begin with shame to take
the lowest place : but when thou art invited, go sit down in the
lowest place : that when he who invited thee cometh, he may
say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have
glory before them that sit at the table with thee. Because
every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled : and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Why did the Pharisees watch Jesus so closely ?
To discover something in Him for which they might censure
and accuse Him. How like them are those Christians who
watch every step of their neighbors, and particularly of priests,
hoping to find something for which to blame them, and repre
sent them as evil persons !
3 16 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Who is, spiritually, like the man with the dropsy ?
The avaricious man ; for as a dropsical person is never satis
fied with drinking, so the avaricious man never has enough;
and like the dropsy, too, avarice is hard to cure, since it grows
worse with age, and generally does not leave a man till he
comes to the grave.
"Why is avarice reckoned among the seven deadly sins?
Because it is the root of many evils ; for it leads to usury,
theft, the use of false weights and measures, to the retaining of
unjustly gotten goods, to the oppression of the poor, of widows
and orphans, to the denial and suppression of justice, to apos
tasy from the faith, and to despair. Hence the Apostle says :
"They that will become rich fall into temptation, and into
the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful
desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition " (i.
Tim. vi. 9).
An efficacious remedy for avarice is the consideration that
we are only the stewards, and not the owners of our goods, of
which we can take nothing with us at the hour of our death
(i. Tim. vi. 7); and that one day God will require of us a
strict account of what we have had.
INSTRUCTION ON KEEPING HOLY SUNDAYS AMD HOLY-DAYS OF
OBLIGATION.
How must we sanctify the Sundays and holy-days?
As the third commandment enjoins, that is, on Sundays
and holy-days, we must not only abstain from servile labor, but
we must, as far as possible, attend divine service, both in the
forenoon and afternoon; for God has not said, thou shalt be
idle on the Sabbath-day, but thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-
day. God will not suffer those who desecrate His holy- day to
go unpunished; He will cover them with disgrace and scorn
(Mai. ii. 3), and will send upon them all the evils of the time.
Se\>enteentb Sunfcas after Pentecost.
N the Introit of the Mass, the justice and mercy of God are
praised. ' ' Thou efl-t just, O Lord, and Thy judgment is
right. Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy. Blessed
I
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 317
are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord "
(Ps. cxviii.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant to Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to avoid
the contagion of the devil, and with a pure mind to seek Thee,
the only God. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. EpJi. iv. 1-6.
Brethren: I, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you
walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, with all
humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another
in charity, careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond
of peace. One body and one spirit, as you are called in one
hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one
God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and
in us all, "Who is blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Practice.
The words, u one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of all," confound those who assert that a man may be
saved in any belief. There can be but one true religion ; they
who profess it should be united by the bond of charity, and
their lives be worthy of their vocation to the true faith.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 35-46.
At that time the Pharisees came nigh to Jesus, and one of
them, a doctor of the law, asked Him, tempting Him : Master,
which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to
him : Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart,
and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind; This is
the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is
like to this : Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On
these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the
prophets. And the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus
asked them, saying: What think you of Christ? Whose son
is He? They say to Him: David's. He saith to them:
How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying: The
Lord said to my Lord: Sit on My right hand, until I make
Thy enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord,
318 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
how is He his son? And no man was able to answer Him a
word : neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any
more questions.
Why is this commandment to love God and our neighbor
called the great commandment ?
Because in these two are contained all the others, so that he
who fulfils these fulfils the whole law. For whoever loves
God with his whole heart does not murmur against God ; does
not dishonor His name by cursing and swearing ; does not dese
crate the Sabbath-day, because he knows that all this is offensive
to God. On the contrary, he hopes in God ; gives thanks and
praise to God ; sanctifies the Sundays and holy- days, because he
knows this to be pleasing to God ; observes the precepts of the
Church, because he knows it to be the will of God that he
should hear the Church ; honors his parents ; does no injury to
his neighbor ; does not commit adultery ; does not steal ;
slanders no one ; bears no false witness ; pronounces no unjust
judgment; is not envious, malicious, unmerciful, but rather
practises towards every one the corporal and spiritual works of
mercy ; and all this because, out of love to God, he loves his
neighbor as himself. Thus love fulfils all the commandments.
What is the meaning of the question, " What think you of
Christ?"
Christ put this question to the Pharisees in order that, by
their own answer, He might convince them that He was not
merely a lineal son of David, but that He was the Son of God,
begotten from eternity, on which account He called Himself
David's Lord. That Christ is the Son of God, our Lord, our
Teacher, our Lawgiver, our Redeemer and Saviour, we Chris
tians know well, for we daily profess it ; but how many of us,
in deeds, deny it, since we do not follow His teaching nor
observe His commandments ! What, then, will Christ one day
be to such ? What but a judge to condemn, and a God to
punish ?
Why must we love our neighbor ?
Because we are all, not merely by descent from Adam, but
much more through the grace of Jesus, children of God and
members of one family. As children of God, we bear in us
the likeness of God. But God loved and still loves all men ;
WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING SEVENTEENTH AFTER PENTECOST. 319
for the salvation of all He has given up His only Son, that all
may be saved ; shall we then love one and hate another, and
yet think to be like God? Through the grace of Jesus we are
all redeemed, made members of His body, yes, partakers of His
body and blood. Therefore St. Paul admonishes us: " You are
all one in Christ" (Gal. iii. 28), "be therefore careful to keep
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephes. iv. 3).
How natural is it for the members of one body not to wound
each other ! Jesus, our Redeemer, gave His life for us when
we were His enemies (Bom. v. 10), and even on the cross prayed
for His murderers. We are His disciples. But can we be
allowed to call ourselves so without possessing this mark of His
discipleship ? (John xiii. 15.) Thus everything incites us to
love : the law of nature and of revelation, the example of
Christ, all the promises and hopes that we have. In truth, how,
without love, could we hope to enter the kingdom of love ?
There can be no answer to this reasoning: "Would you be a
disciple of Jesus, an heir of His kingdom ? ' ' then love like
Him ; and He has shed His blood for His mortal enemies.
We&nes&a£ following tbe Seventeentb Sunba^ after
Pentecost— Bmber Bag.
EPISTLE, n. Esdras viii. 1-10.
~T~N those days all the people were gathered together as one man
•*- to the street which is before the water-gate, and they
spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of
Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. Then Esdras
the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and
women, and all those that could understand, in the first day of
the seventh month. And he read it plainly in the street that
was before the water-gate, from the morning until mid-day,
before the men, and the women, and all those that could under
stand : and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book.
And Esdras the scribe stood upon a step of wood, which he had
made to speak upon, and there stood by him Mathathias, and
Semeia, and Ania, and Uria, and Helcia, and Maasia, on his
right hand : and on the left, Phadaia, Misaei, and Melchia, ard
Hasum, and Hasbadana, Zacharia and Mosollam. And Esdras
opened the book before all the people : for he was above all the
320 WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING SEVENTEENTH AFTELl PENTECOST.
people : and when he had opened it, all the people stood. And
Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people
answered, Amen, amen: lifting up their hands: and they
bowed down, and adored God with their faces to the ground.
Now Josue, and Bani, and Serebia, Jamin, Accub, Septhai,
Odia, Maasia, Celita, Azarias, Jozabed, Hanan, Phalaia, the
Levites, made silence among the people to hear the law : and
the people stood in their place. And they read in the book of
the law of God distinctly and plainly to be understood : and
they understood when it was read. And Nehemias (he is
Athersatha) and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who interpreted to all the people, said : This is a holy- day to
the Lord our God : do not mourn, nor weep : for all the people
wept when they heard the words of the law. And he said to
them : Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send por
tions to them that have not prepared for themselves : because
it is the holy-day of the Lord, and be not sad, for the joy of
the Lord is our strength.
Aspiration.
O Lord, send zealous priests like Esdras into Thy vineyard,
the Church, and grant that we, with fervor like that of Thy
people who listened to him, may hearken to Thy word preached
to us by Thy minister the priest, and may repent sincerely of
our sins ; thus seeking and finding in Thee, our Lord, our only
joy and strength.
GOSPEL. Mark ix. 16-28.
At that time, one of the multitude answering, said to Jasus :
Master, I have brought my son to Thee having a dumb spirit.
Wlio, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him, and he foameth,
rind gnasheth with the teeth, and pineth away : and I spoke to
Thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. Who an
swering them, said : O incredulous generation, how long shall
I be with you ? how long shall I suffer you ? bring him unto
Me. And they brought him. And when He had seen him,
immediately the spirit troubled him ; and being thrown down
upon the ground, he rolled about foaming. And He asked his
father : How long time is it since this hath happened unto him?
But he said : From his infancy : and oftentimes hath he cast
FRIDAY FOLLOWING SEVENTEENTH AFTER PENTECOST. 321
him into the fire and into waters to destroy him. But if Thou
canst do anything, help us, having compassion on us. And
Jesus saith to him : If thou canst believe, all things are possible
to him that believeth. And immediately the father of the boy
crying out, with tears said : I do believe, Lord ; help my un
belief. And when Jesus saw the multitude running together,
He threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him : Deaf and dumb
spirit, I command thee, go out of him : and enter not any more
into him. And crying out, and greatly tearing him, he went
out of him, and he became as dead, so that many said : He is
dead. But Jesus taking him by the hand, lifted him up ; and
he arose. And when He was come into the house, His disciples
secretly asked Him : Why could not we cast him out ? And He
said to them : This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer
and fasting.
Prayer.
Uphold, O Lord, our infirmity by the help of Thy mercy,
that what by itself must fall, may stand upright by Thy clem
ency. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
following tbe Seventeenth Snnfcas after
Pentecost— Ember Dag*
EPISTLE. Osee xiv. 2-10.
rpnus saith the Lord God: Eeturn, O Israel, to the Lord thy
-L God : for thou hast fallen down by thy iniquity. Take
with you words, and return to the Lord, and say to Him : Take
away all iniquity, and receive the good : and we will render the
calves of our lips. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride
upon horses, neither will we say any more : The works of our
hands are our gods : for Thou wilt have mercy on the fatherless
that is in Thee. I will heal their breaches, I will love them
freely : for My wrath is turned away from them. I will be as
the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his root shall shoot
forth as that of Libanus. His branches shall spread, and his
glory shall be as the olive-tree : and his smell as that of Liba
nus. They shall be converted that sit under his shadow : they
shall live upon wheat, and they shall blossom as a vine: his
memorial shall be as the wine of Libanus. Ephraim shall say,
What have I to do any more with idols? I will hear him, and
322 SATURDAY FOLLOWING SEVENTEENTH AFTER PENTECOST.
I will make him flourish like a green fir-tree : from me is thy
fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
prudent, and he shall know these things? for the ways of the
Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them : but the trans
gressors shall fall in them.
Explanation.
The prophet Osee, by the command of God, exhorts the
people of Israel to penance, and seeks to move them by describ
ing the happiness thereby obtained. What blessing and what
joy come from a sincere repentance in life, and particularly in
the hour of death !
The gospel is the same as for the Thursday in Passion Week
(Luke vii. 36-50). See page 162.
following tbe Seventeentb Sun&a$ after
Pentecost— lEmber
EPISTLE. Hebrews ix. 2-12.
RETHREN \ There was a tabernacle made the first, wherein
were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth
of loaves, which is called the Holy. And after the second veil,
the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of holies: having
a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on
every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna,
and the rod of Aaron, that had blossomed, and the tables of the
testament. And over it were the cherubim of glory, over
shadowing the propitiatory : of which it is not needful to speak
now particularly. Now these things being thus ordered, into
the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accom
plishing the offices of sacrifices. But into the second, the high-
priest alone, once a year : not without blood, which he offereth
for his own and the people's ignorance : the Holy Ghost signi
fying this, that the way into the holies was not yet made mani
fest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing. Which is
a parable of the time present : according to which gifts and sac
rifices are offered, which cannot, as to the conscience, make him
perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks, and divers
washings, and justices of the flesh, laid on them until the time
of correction. But Christ being come, an high-priest of the
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle
SATURDAY FOLLOWING SEVENTEENTH AFTER PENTECOST. 323
not made with hand, that is, not of this creation : neither by the
blood of goats, or of calves, but by His own blood, entered once
into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
GOSPEL. Luke xiii. 6-17.
At that time Jesus spoke to the multitude this parable : A
certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came
seeking fruit on it, and found none. And he said to the
dresser of the vineyard : Behold for these three years I come
seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and I find none. Cut it down
therefore; why cumbereth it the ground? But he answering
said to him : Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about
it and dung it. And if happily it bear fruit : but if not, then
after that thou shalt cut it down. And He was teaching in their
synagogue on the Sabbath. And behold there was a woman
who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years : and she was bowed
together, neither could she look upwards at all. Whom when
Jesus saw, He called her unto Him, and said to her : Woman,
thou art delivered from thy infirmity. And He laid His hands
upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified
God. And the ruler of the synagogue (being angry that Jesus
had healed on the Sabbath), answering said to the multitude : Six
days there are wherein you ought to work. In them therefore
come, and be healed ; and not on the Sabbath-day. And the
Lord answering him, said : Ye hypocrites, doth not every one of
you on the Sab bath-day loose his ox or his ass from the manger,
and lead them to water ? And ought not this daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be
loosed from this bond on the Sabbath-day? And when He said
these things, all His adversaries were ashamed : and all the people
rejoiced for all the things that were gloriously done by Him.
Practice.
This parable was a call to the Jews to do penance ; that they
who, as St. Jerome says, had been warned three times — through
the law of Moses, through the prophets, and finally through
Christ Himself — might not at last go to destruction. At the
same time it was a threat of approaching judgment. Let us
learn hence to make good use of the days of God's long-suffer
ing mercy, that we may not, like the unfruitful tree, be cut
down and cast into the fire.
324 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Prayer.
O almighty, eternal God, "Who by salutary abstinence doth
heal both our bodies and souls, we humbly entreat Thy majesty
that, appeased by the pious prayers of those who fast, Thou
wouldst grant us present and future support. Through Christ
our Lord, etc.
J£i0bteentb Sunfca^ after Pentecost
IN the Introit of the Mass the Church prays for the peace which
God has promised through His prophets. " Give peace,
O Lord, to them that patiently wait for Thee, that Thy prophets
may be found faithful ; hear the prayers of Thy servants, and
of Thy people Israel. I rejoiced at the things that were said to
me ; we shall go into the house of the Lord. ' ' Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that the work of Thy mercy may
direct our hearts ; for without Thy grace we cannot be pleasing
to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. i. 4-8.
Brethren : I give thanks to my God always for you, for the
grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus, that in all things
you are made rich in Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge ;
as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you : so that nothing
is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who also will confirm you unto the end
without crime, in the day of the coming of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Brief Lessons.
St. Paul shows in this epistle that he possesses the true love
of his neighbor, by rejoicing and thanking God that He had be
stowed on the Corinthians manifold gifts and graces, and thereby
confirmed the testimony of Christ in them.
By this we learn that we should rejoice over the gifts and
graces of our neighbors; should thank God for them, and pray
Him to fill all who are in the darkness of error with knowledge,
and love, and all virtues.
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, 325
GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 1-8.
At that time Jesus, entering into a boat, passed over the
water and came into His own city. And behold they brought
to Him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing
their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy : Be of good heart,
son, thy sins are forgiven thee. And behold some of the scribes
said within themselves: He blasphemeth. And Jesus seeing
their thoughts, said: Why do you think evil in your hearts?
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee : or to say,
Arise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man
hath power on earth to forgive sins, then said He to the man
sick of the palsy : Arise, take up thy bed and go into thy house.
And he arose, and went into his house. And the multitude
seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.
Explanation.
The charity of those who brought the sick man to Christ
was so full of faith, so pleasing to Him, that, out of regard for it,
He forgave the palsied man his sins, and healed him.
Christ did not heal the man sick with the palsy until He had
forgiven him his sins. By this He teaches us that sins are often
the cause of the sicknesses and evils that pursue us; and that if
we sincerely repent of our sins, God would be likely to remove
these evils from us. This is also intimated by the words of
Jesus to him who had been sick eight-and-thirty years : " Sin
no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee" (John v. 14).
This should be kept in mind by those who so impetuously be
seech God to free them from their afflictions, but who do not
think to free themselves from the sins which may be the cause
of them, by a sincere repentance and by leading a Christian life.
"He blasphemeth." Thus, in their perverted minds, the
Jews thought of Christ ; supposing that, by forgiving the sick
man his sins, Ho had committed an encroachment on the prerog
ative of God, and thereby done Him great wrong; for it is blas
phemy against God to attempt to wrong Him, or to think, speak,
or do anything insulting to Him or to His saints.
" And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said : Why do you think
evil in your hearts?" This is something to be considered by
those who suppose their thoughts to be free from scrutiny, and to
whom it does not even occur to make their evil thoughts matter
326 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
of confession. God, the most holy and most just, will no more
leave unpunished impure, proud, angry, revengeful, envious
thoughts, than He will an idle word (Matt. xii. 36). Do not,
therefore, give yourself up to evil thoughts; and in order to
repel them, remember each time that God sees and punishes
them. Would you not drive them away if men saw them?
Why not, then, on account of God?
ON INDULGENCES.
What is an indulgence?
It is the remission granted by the Church, in the name of
God, and on account of the merits of Jesus Christ and of all the
saints, of the temporal punishment which men must suffer, either
in this world or in the world to come, for sins that have been al
ready forgiven.
Whence do we know that after sins are forgiven there yet
remains a temporal punishment?
From Holy Scripture; thus God imposed upon Adam and
Eve great temporal punishments, although He forgave them
their sin (Gen. iii.). Moses and Aaron were punished for a slight
want of confidence in God (Num. xx. 24; Deut. xxxii. 51).
David, though forgiven, was obliged to submit to great temporal
punishments (n. Kings xii.). Finally, faith teaches us that after
death we must suffer in purgatory till we have paid the last
farthing (Matt. v. 26).
Can the Church remit all temporal punishments, even those
imposed by God Himself, and why?
Certainly, by virtue of the power to bind and to loose
which Christ has given her (Matt, xviii. 18). For if the Church
has received from God the power to remit sins — which is the
greater — she certainly has authority to remit the punishment
of them — which is the less. Moreover, it is by the bands of
punishment that we are hindered from reaching the kingdom of
God. But if the Church can loose all bands, why not this?
Finally, Jesus certainly had power to remit the temporal punish
ment of sins ; and the power which He Himself had He gave
to His disciples.
What is required in order rightly to gain an indulgence?
In order to gain an indulgence it is necessary: I. To be In
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 327
the grace of God. It is proper, therefore, to go to confession
every time that one begins the good works enjoined for the gain
ing of an indulgence. In granting partial indulgences sacra
mental confession is not usually prescribed, but if one who is in
the state of mortal sin wishes to gain the indulgence, he must at
least make an act of true contrition with a firm purpose of going
to confession. 2. It is necessary to have at least a general inten
tion of gaining the indulgences. 3. It is necessary to perform in
person and with devotion all the good works enjoined as to time,
manner, end, etc., according to the terms in which the indul
gence is granted.
To gain plenary indulgences, confession, communion, a visit
to some church or public oratory, and pious prayers are usually
prescribed. If visits to a church are prescribed, holy com
munion may be received in any church, but the indulgenced
prayers must be said in that church in which the indulgence is
granted, and on the prescribed day. As to prayers, it is recom
mended that there be said seven times the Our Father, Hail
Mary, Glory be to the Father, and Creed.
Prayer for gaining an Indulgence.
"We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously accept the petitions of
Thy holy Church, that Thou wouldst deliver her from all adver
sities, root out from her' all heresies, unite all Christian rulers
and princes, and exalt Thy holy Church on earth, that we may
all serve Thee in peace and quietness. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Iftfneteentb Sunfcas after Pentecost.
~TN the Introit of the Mass God promises to hear the people
who observe His law, and to help them in all their tribula
tions. "I am the salvation of the people, saith the Lord; in
whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them, and
I will be their Lord forever. Attend, O My people, to My law ;
incline your ears to the words of My mouth." Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
0 almighty and merciful God, graciously defend us from all
that is hurtful, that, free in mind and body, we may with ready
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
mind perform all that belongs to Thy service. Through Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Eph. iv. 23-28.
Brethren : Be renewed in the spirit of your mind : and put
on the new man, who, according to God, is created in justice,
and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak
ye the truth every man with his neighbor : for we are members
one of another. Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go
down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil. He that
stole, let him now steal no more, but rather let him labor, work
ing with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have
something to give to him that suffereth need.
Explanation.
The epistle of to-day particularly concerns such a$ live in
falsehood, hatred, anger, injustice, impurity, or other sins.
Perhaps we have often renewed our spirit at a jubilee, or a
mission, or a spiritual retreat ; we seemed then to be converted,
and to have become new men, but how long did our spiritual
renovation last? Alas, how soon were we sinners again ! We
thought that, after making a general confession, everything was
done ; instead of zealously using all means to preserve ourselves
in this happy state of spiritual renewal, we allowed ourselves
once more to resort to bad company and dangerous occasions,
and gave ourselves up, as before, to idleness and indulgence.
When shall we be lastingly converted?
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 2-14.
At that time Jesus spoke to the chief priests and Pharisees
in parables, saying : The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king,
who made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants to
call them that were invited to the marriage : and they would
not come. Again he sent other servants, saying : Tell them that
were invited : Behold, I have prepared my dinner ; my beeves
and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready : come ye to the
marriage. But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his
farm, and another to his merchandise. And the rest laid hands
on his servants, and, having treated them contumeliously, put
them to death. But when the king had heard of it, he was
angry, and, sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers,
and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants : The mar-
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
329
riage indeed is ready : but they that were invited were not wor
thy. Go ye therefore into the highways ; and as many as you
shall find, call to the marriage. And his servants going forth
into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad
and good : and the marriage was filled with guests. And the
king went in to see the guests : and he saw there a man wTho had
not on a wedding garment. And he saith to him : Friend, how
earnest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But
he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his
hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness : there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called,
but few are chosen.
Remark. — This parable is, in many respects, the same as that
for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, and has the same mean
ing. See, therefore, the explanation of that gospel ; in addition
to this, consider also the following
Explanation.
1. In the present parable the king is our heavenly Father,
Who has espoused His only-begotten Son to the Church. 2.
330 NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
The feast is made up of the doctrines of the Gospel, the holy
sacraments, with the other means of salvation, and of eternal
joys. 3. The servants sent to invite the guests are the prophets,
apostles, and disciples of Christ. 4. Those invited are the Jews,
who, despising the honor intended for them, put to death the
prophets and apostles. 5. In their place others, that is, the
heathen, were called from all quarters of the earth, who, having
been in the broad road to destruction, now occupy the place of
the Jews in the marriage -feast of the Church, and will one day
occupy their place in heaven. 6. The wedding garment signifies
charity, which shows itself by good works; without this, faith
avails nothing.
That the man without a wedding garment was silent when
questioned by the king shows us that no one will be able to
excuse himself before God for not having charity, since every
one may have it if he only ask it from God, and be willing to
practise it.
Aspiration.
I thank Thee, O Jesus, that, through Thy incarnation, pas
sion, and death, Thou hast gained for me eternal happiness;
give me also the wedding garment of charity, that I may be
admitted to the heavenly marriage-feast, and not be cast into
the exterior darkness.
Lessons of Consolation from the Joys of Heaven.
In what these joys consist, St. Paul himself, though more
than once caught up to heaven and allowed to see and taste
them, could not describe. He only says that ' c eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of
man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him "
(i. Cor. ii. 9). In heaven all beauties, all delights, all joys,
are found in the highest and most perfect degree ; free from
all evil, free from all anxiety and disgust, and free from all fear
of ever losing them. In a word, in heaven man shall possess
God Himself, the source of all joy and happiness, and shall,
with Him, enjoy God's own happiness for all eternity. " "We
shall be like to Him ' ' (i. John iii. 2).
Is there need of anything more to give us the highest con
ception of heaven?
c ' How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! my
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 031
soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord, my heart
and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God" (Ps. Ixxxiii).
4 ' How weary of the world am I when I contemplate heaven ! ' '
T
Uwentfetb Sunfcas atter Pentecost
I HE Introit of the Mass is a humble prayer by which we
confess that we are punished for our disobedience. " All
that Thou hast done to us, O Lord, Thou hast done in true
judgment, because we have sinned against Thee, and we have
not obeyed Thy commandments ; but give glory to Thy name,
and deal with us according to the multitude of Thy mercy ' '
(Dan. iii.). " Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk
in the law of the Lord. ' ' Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Be appeased, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and grant to Thy
faithful pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all
their offences, and serve Thee with secure mind. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. JSph. v. 15-21.
See, brethren, how you walk circumspectly : not as unwise,
but as wise : redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the
will of God. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury,
but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit. Speaking to yourselves
in psalmsrand hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and mak
ing melody in your hearts to the Lord : giving thanks always
for all things in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and
the Father : being subject one to another in the fear of Christ.
GOSPEL. John iv. 46-53.
At that time there was a certain ruler whose son was sick at
Capharnaum. He having heard that Jesus was - come from
Judea into Galilee, went to Him, and prayed Him to come
down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus
therefore said to him: Unless you see signs and wonders, you
believe not. The ruler saith to him : Lord, come down before
that my son die. Jesus saith to him : Go thy way, thy son
liveth. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him,
and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants
332 TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
met him : and they brought word, saying that his son lived.
He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better.
And they said to him : Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever
left him. The father therefore knew that it was at the same
hour that Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth ; and himself be
lieved, and his whole house.
Explanation.
God permitted the son of the ruler to fall sick, that he,
being thereby led to seek assistance from Christ, might obtain
faith and salvation. In like manner, in order to convert sin
ners, He often permits manifold evils and misfortunes to come
upon them, either in their own persons, or in their children,
their goods. If God sends upon us failure of crops, inun
dation, hail, famine, war, sickness, death of those we love,
He thereby designs nothing else than to move us at least to
abandon sin and to turn to Him. God, indeed, sometimes
sends afflictions upon the pious and innocent, or allows them
to be vexed and tormented by wicked men, but He does this
only to try their patience and love for Him ; to detach them
from the world ; to set them on their guard against sin ;
and to give them opportunity for gaining the greatest merits ;
for "to them that love God, all things work together unto
good " (Rom. viii. 28). Such were the designs of God in re-"
gard to Job, Tobias, and others ; and how. profitable to them
were these trials from God ! But can we compare ourselves
with these pious men when, instead of turning our trials to ad
vantage by patience, we rather consider as our enemies those
whom God makes use of to sanctify us?
How much good may not the example of a father of a
family accomplish ! Hardly had this ruler received the faith,
when his whole household was converted and believed in Jesus
Christ. Thus fathers and mothers of families, by their good
example, their piety, their zeal in prayer, their frequent receiv
ing of the holy sacraments, by their meekness, their modera
tion, their modesty, may do incalculable good to their depend
ents and the inmates of their houses. "Would that they might
reflect on this! " For if they have no care for their own, and
especially those of their own house, they have denied the faith
and are worse than the infidel" (i. Tim. v. 8).
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 333
Consolation in Sickness.
To console ourselves in sickness, let us bethink ourselves
that God has sent us sickness for the good of our souls ; that we
may thereby attain a knowledge of our sins, and make satisfac
tion for them ; or, if we suffer innocently, we may exercise our
selves in patience, charity, humility, and such like virtues, and so
increase our merits. When ill let us employ a competent phy
sician and use the remedies he may prescribe. But before all
else, let us betake ourselves to God, give ourselves up unreserv
edly to His will, pray Him to enlighten the physician, and bless
the means employed for our recovery, and subdue our inclinations
if the prescription of the physician does violence to our former
habits. For how otherwise should medicine have its proper
effect?
Ejaculation of St. Augustine. — O Lord, here burn, here
wound, only spare me in eternity !
ON THE CARE OF THE SICK.
All who have charge of the sick should before all think of
the soul, and to that end call upon Jesus to come in the Blessed
334 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Sacrament, before the sick person is past the point of receiving
Him with devotion. Therefore, parents, children, relatives, and
friends, if they truly love the sick, should seek to induce him to
receive the Blessed Sacrament in time. At the beginning, and
during the progress of the sickness, we should endeavor to encour
age the patient to resignation and childlike confidence in God ;
should place before him the Saviour, suffering and glorified, as a
pattern and consolation, should pray with him, to strengthen him
against desponding thoughts and the temptations of the devil ;
should sign him with the sign of the cross, sprinkle him with
holy water, and, before all, pray for a happy death.
But in caring for the soul the body is not to be neglected.
We must call in time a skilful physician, give the sick person
his medicines at the appointed times, keep everything clean,
observe particularly the prescribed limit as to eating and drink
ing, and not permit the patient to have his own will, for he might
often desire what would be hurtful to him. In general we should
do what, in like case, we would wish to have done for ourselves,
for there is no greater work of charity than to attend a sick
person, and particularly to assist him to a happy death.
Sunfca^ after Pentecost
AT the Introit of the Mass is said the prayer of Mardochai,
which may be used in all necessities and adversities.
"All things are in Thy will, O Lord, and there is none that can
resist Thy will ; for Thou hast made all things, heaven and earth,
and all things that are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord
of all. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the
law of the Lord." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Preserve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy family by con
tinued mercy, that by Thy protection they may be free from all
adversity, and in good works be devoted to Thy name. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Ephesians vi. 10-17.
Brethren : Be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of
His power. Put you on the armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 335
is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and
powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against
the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto
you the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil
day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having
your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate
of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace: in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you
may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked
one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation ; and the sword
of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
Explanation.
In this epistle the holy apostle encourages us to the combat
against evil, and points out both our enemy and the weapons we
are to use. He exhorts us to protect ourselves by, 1, the gir
dle — that is, truth, by virtue of which we despise the goods of
earth; 2, the breastplate — that is, justice, which renders to
God, our neighbor, and ourselves what is due to each; 3, the
shoes — that is, readiness in regulating our lives by the Gospel ; 4,
the shield — that is, faith, by the doctrines and promises of which
we render harmless the fiery darts of the devil; 5, the helmet —
that is, the hope of eternal salvation, which enables us to endure
all temporal misfortune ; 6, the sword — that is, the word of God,
which, when we use it after the example of Jesus, the most pow
erful enemy cannot resist (Matt. iv.). Thus armed, we shall be
conquerors in the combat with Satan, and gain the crown of vic
tory.
GOSPEL. Matt, xviii. 23-35.
At that time . Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable : The
kingdom of God is likened to a king who would take an account
of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account,
one was brought to him that owed him ten thousand talents.
And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded
that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he
had, and payment to be made. But that servant, falling down,
besought him, saying : Have patience with me, and I will pay
thee all. And the lord of that servant, being moved with pity,
let him go, and forgave him the debt. But when that servant
was gone out, he found one of his fellow-servants that owed him
336 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
a hundred pence ; and laying hold of him, he throttled him, say
ing : Pay what thou owest. And his fellow-servant, falling down,
besought him, saying : Have patience with me, and I will pay
thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into
prison, till he paid the debt. Now his fellow-servants, seeing
what was done, were very much grieved, and they came and told
their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him, and said
to him : Thou wicked servant ! I forgave thee all the debt, because
thou besoughtest me : shouldst not thou then have had compassion
also on thy fellow-servant, even as I had compassion on thee?
And his lord, being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he
paid all the debt. So also shall My heavenly Father do to you,
if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
What would Jesus teach by this parable ?
The king is God ; the servant is mankind ; the ten thousand
talents, equal to ten millions of dollars, signify the enormous and
excessive debts which men contract by their sins against God :
a sum so exceedingly great as to show clearly that the debt of
man to God is without limit, and truly overwhelming. The
hundred pence, a small sum, equal to perhaps six or seven dol
lars, denotes the offences which others have given us, and which,
in comparison with our offences against God, are insignificant.
By this parable, therefore, Jesus intended to say : As God for
gives your immense debts if you sorrowfully pray for forgive
ness, so ought you to forgive your fellow- men their compara
tively light debts when they ask forgiveness of you. Unless
you grant it, you shall receive no pardon from My Father.
"Who are like that unmerciful servant ?
All unmerciful and hard-hearted persons; particularly, 1,
rulers who oppress the people by excessive taxes; 2, those
who oppress widows and orphans, and keep from servants the
wages due them; 3, those who have no patience with their
debtors, but deprive them of house and goods rather than be
indulgent to them. God will deal with such men in the other
world as they have dealt with their neighbors in this. 4.
Finally, all persons who will not forgive injuries done them,
but preserve hatred in their hearts; who bring such as have
injured them before the courts, and even seek to injure them
out of revenge. How can they hope to obtain mercy?
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 337
What is meant by forgiving from the heart ?
It is to banish from the heart all hatred and desire of re
venge ; to bear in our hearts a sincere love towards our enemy,
and to manifest it by works of charity. If we think of the
multitude of sins which God has forgiven us, how can we re
fuse to forgive trifling wrongs against ourselves ? At any rate,
let us not forget that God forgives us only when we also forgive
from the heart.
Ejaculation. — Merciful God, grant me grace to be truly
merciful towards my fellow-men, as Thou art towards me.
Prayer.
O God, Who, through the patience of Thine only-begotten
Son, hast humbled the pride of our old enemy, mercifully grant
that, by considering what He has suffered for us, we may cheer
fully and patiently bear our adversities, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen,
ftwents^econt) Suntap atter Pentecost
IN the Introit of the Mass, pray with tie priest for the for
giveness of your sins: " If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniqui
ties, Lord, who shall stand? for with Thee there is merciful
forgiveness, O God of Israel. Out of the depths I have cried
to Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice " (Ps. cxxix.). Glory be
to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, our refuge and strength, Who art the author of
mercy, attend to the pious prayers of Thy Church, and grant
that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. i. 6-11.
Brethren: We are confident in the Lord Jesus, that He,
Who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the
day of Christ Jesus. As it is meet for me to think this for you
all : for that I have you in my heart ; and that in my bonds,
and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, you are all
partakers of my joy. For God is my witness, how I Jong after
you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that
your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and ID
338
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
all understanding : that you may approve the better things,
that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of
Christ, filled with the fruit of justice through Jesus Christ,
unto the glory and praise of God.
This epistle was written by St. Paul from Rome, where he
was in prison, to the converts whom he had made in the city of
Philippi, Macedonia. They had not only received the Gospel,
but had also, for the sake of it, suffered many trials ; besides,
they had assisted the apostles with pious gifts. St. Paul, there
fore, rejoiced, and thanked the Lord. The day of Christ,
spoken of by the Apostle, is the day of judgment, which comes
to every man at the very hour of his death.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 15-21.
At that time, the Pharisees going, consulted among them
selves how to ensnare Jesus in His speech. And they sent to
Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we
know that Thou art a true speaker, and teachest the way of God
in truth, neither carest Thou for any man : for Thou dost not
regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what dost Thou
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 339
think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not ? But
Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said : Why do you tempt Me,
ye hypocrites ? Show Me the coin of the tribute. And they
offered Him a penny. And Jesus saith to them : Whose image
and inscription is this ? They say to Him : Caesar's. Then
He saith to them : Kender therefore to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
Who are hypocrites ?
Those who, in order to deceive their neighbors, show them
selves outwardly pious, while within they are full of evil dis
positions and malice ; who have honey on the tongue, but gall
in the heart ; who, like scorpions, sting when one least expects
it. Such men are cursed by God (Mai. i. 14). u The Lord
hatetli a mouth with a double tongue " (Prov. viii. 13).
" Assumed sanctity," says St. Jerome, " is a double malicious-
Santas after Pentecost
THE Introit of the Mass consoles us, and encourages us to con
fidence in God, Who is so kind to us, and will not suffer us
to be always in tribulation. " The Lord saith, I thin,k thoughts
of peace, and not of affliction. You shall call upon Me, and I
will hear you, and I will bring back your captivity from all
places. Lord, Thou hast blest Thy land, Thou hast turned
away the captivity of Jacob." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy people,
that we may be delivered by Thy goodness from the bonds of
sin which, by our frailty, we have committed. Through Christ
our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. iii. 17-21 ; iv. 1-3.
Be followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk
so as you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have
told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies
of the cross of Christ ; whose end is destruction : whose God is
their belly : and whose glory is in their shame : who mind
earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven : from whence
also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will
340 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of His
glory, according to the operation whereby also He is able to sub
due all things unto Himself. Therefore, my dearly beloved
brethren, and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand
fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia, and I
beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord. And I en
treat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women that
have labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement and the rest of
my fellow- laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Explanation.
In these words the Apostle gives warning against the false
teachers of his day, who, although outwardly receiving and
preaching Christianity, in heart hated the strict requirements of
Christian morals, and lived according to their sensual lusts. He
therefore cautions the faithful not to take them for patterns, for
they are only hastening to eternal perdition, but rather to be
followers of him, and of those who imitate his life.
These warnings and admonitions apply also to us. For are
there not among us enemies of the cross of Christ, who are
called Christians, but who will have nothing to do with self-
denial, mortification, chastity, and such like virtues? who indeed
despise them, and count those who practise them fools? Let us
not be led astray by them. For what will be the end of them ?
Everlasting destruction. For he who does not crucify his flesh
does not belong to Christ (Gal. v. 24) ; whoever does not bear
about his body the dying of Christ, in his body the life of Christ,
will never be made manifest (n. Cor. iv. 10). Whoever does
not already walk in heaven, that is, direct his thoughts and de-
sires to heavenly goods, will not find admission there after death.
Ejaculation.
O my God, would that I might say, with St. Paul, the
world is crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. vi. 14).
GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 18-26.
At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, be
hold a certain ruler came up, and adored Him, saying: Lord,
my daughter is even now dead ; but come, lay Thy hand upon
her, and she shall live. And Jesus rising up, followed him
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
341
with His disciples. And behold a woman who was troubled
with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and
touched the hem of His garment. For she said within herself :
If I shall touch only His garment I shall be healed. But Jesus
turning and seeing her, said : Be of good heart, daughter, thy
faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole
from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of
the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a
rout, he said: Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepetli.
And they laughed Him to scorn. And when the multitude was
put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand. And the
maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that
country.
Explanation.
The ruler and the woman here mentioned teach us that in
diseases of body or of mind we should have recourse to Jesus
with faith and confidence ; and even when the malady continues,
and seems to be incurable, we should not suffer our courage to
sink.
342 TWENTY-FOURTH AND LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
ON MOCKERY AND RIDICULE.
When Jesus entered the house of Jairus, and said, " The
girl is not dead, but sleepeth," the multitude laughed Him to
scorn, because they understood neither the meaning of His
words nor what He was about to do. Similar treatment sen
sual-minded men of the world often give to those servants of
God who, by word and example, preach the contempt of honors,
riches, pleasures, and the love of poverty, humility, and morti
fication. Permit not yourself to be led astray by those who
ridicule your zeal for virtue ; pay no heed to them, according
to the example of Jesus, and trust in Him Who was Himself de
rided for your sake. Say to yourself : "I know, O dearest
Jesus, that the servant is not greater than his master. When
Thou wast so often mocked, why should it appear strange to me
to be jeered at and called senseless for endeavoring to practise
devotion and virtue? I would not fare differently from Thee,
my Lord and my God."
Uwent^fourtb ant) OLast Suntms after Pentecost*
[N.B. — If there should be more than twenty-four Sundays
after Pentecost, the Masses after the twenty-third will be of
those Sundays after Epiphany which were passed over, and the
following is the order to be observed :
If there be twenty-five Sundays, on the twenty-fourth is
said the Mass and Gospel of the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
If there be twenty-six Sundays, on the twenty-fourth is said
the Mass and Gospel of the Fifth, and on the twenty-fifth, that
of the Sixth after Epiphany.
If there be twenty-seven Sundays, on the twenty-fourth is
said the Mass of the Fourth ; on the twenty-fifth, that of the
Fifth ; on the twenty-sixth, that of the Sixth after Epiphany.
If there be twenty -eight Sundays, on the twenty-fourth is
said the Mass of the Third; on the twenty-fifth, that of the
Fourth; on the twenty -sixth, that of the Fifth; on the twenty-
seventh, that of the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
The Mass and gospel of the twenty -fourth are always to
be said on the last Sunday after Pentecost.]
The Introit of the Mass is the same as on the twenty-third
Sunday after Pentecost.
TWENTY-FOURTH AND LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 343
Prayer.
Stir up the wills of Thy faithful, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
that, more earnestly seeking after the fruit of good works, they
may receive more abundant helps from Thy mercy. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Col. i. 9-14.
Brethren : We cease not to pray for you, and to beg that you
may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom, and
spiritual understanding : that you may walk worthy of God, in
all things pleasing : being fruitful in every good work, and in
creasing in the knowledge of God : strengthened with all might,
according to the power of His glory, in all patience and long-
suffering with joy, giving thanks to God the Father, Who hath
made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light :
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love : in
Whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of
sins.
This epistle teaches us that we should thank God continu
ally for the infinite grace of calling us to be Christians and
members of the Catholic Church. In like manner should we
pray, without ceasing, for still greater enlightenment, and
greater strength in doing good, until, in our knowledge and in
our practice, we attain to likeness with God.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxiv. 15-35.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : When you shall
see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place : he that readeth,
let him understand. Then they that are in Judea, let them flee
to the mountains. And he that is on the house-top, let him
not come down to take anything out of his house: and he
that is in the field let him not go back to take his coat.
And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in
those days. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or
on the Sabbath. For there shall be then great tribulation, such
as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now,
neither shall be. And unless those days had been shortened,
344 TWENTY-FOURTH AND LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
no flesh should be saved; but for the sake of the elect those
days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say to you :
Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. For there shall
arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs
and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the
elect. Behold I have told it to you beforehand. If therefore
they shall say to you : Behold, He is in the desert, go ye not out ;
behold, He is in the closets, believe it not. For as lightning
cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west : so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Wheresoever the
body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be moved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven : and then shall all the tribes of the earth
mourn : and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds
of heaven with much power and majesty. And He shall send
His angels with a trumpet, and a great voice : and they shall
gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest
parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. And from
the fig-tree learn a parable : when the branch thereof is now
tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is
nigh. So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye
that it is nigh, even at the doors. Amen, I say to you, that this
generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
Explanation.
" The abomination of desolation," of which Christ makes
mention, is the desecration of the temple, at the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans, when it was profaned in the most
frightful manner, by robbery, murder, conflagration, and the
setting up of idols — about forty years after the death of Christ.
While the Jewish population were perishing, the Christians,
following the warning of Christ, fled over the mountains to the
city of Pella. Thereby Jesus would indicate how great the
danger would be should they be obliged to fly in winter, or on
the Sabbath-day, on which they were forbidden to make a jour
ney of more than five hundred paces.
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 345
4 'False Christs and false prophets," like those here spoken
of, according to the testimony of Josephus, were Eleazar, John,
and Simon, who appeared at the time of the Jewish war, and,
under the pretence of helping the Jews, plunged them into still
greater misfortunes. Before the end of the world a false Mes-
sias will appear, who is the Antichrist. According to the
opinion of the holy fathers, he will be born from among the
Jewish people, and is called Antichrist because he will claim to
be the redeemer and sanctifier of men, and will denounce Christ
as an impostor. On account of his malice and cruelty St. Paul
calls him the man of sin and the son of perdition (n. Thess.
ii. 3), who, out of pride, will sit in the temple of God, show
ing himself as if he were God, and will command all who will
not worship him to be put to death. And he will, by his
splendor, his promises, his false miracles, succeed so far that
not only many Jews (to whom the poor and humble Jesus was
too insignificant) will acknowledge him to be the Messias, but
even many Christians will deny Christ and adhere to him.
Even the elect would be in danger of being deceived by him
were it not that for their sake God will shorten those days, as
He shortened the days of tribulation at the time of the destruc
tion of Jerusalem.
Jesus now goes on to define the time of the destruction of
Jerusalem, and says that many of His hearers shall live to see
it; which was actually the case. But when the end of the
world is to come no one, He says, knoweth; no, not the
angels of heaven, but the Father alone (Matt. xxiv. 36). Let
us, therefore, keep ourselves always ready, by a pious life, for
the coming of the divine Judge, and with that purpose let us
often think on the significant words of Our Lord : " Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
ffeast of tbe Dedication ot a Gburcb,
rpHE feast of the dedication of a church is the day upon which
we annually commemorate its solemn consecration to God.
Why do we celebrate the anniversary of dedication ?
To give thanks to God for having chosen a dwelling-place
amongst us, for having shown us therein so many favors, and for
having preserved us in the true faith. By such an anniversary
346 FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
we should also be incited to sanctify ourselves as temples of God.
Is it anything new for churches to be dedicated and the an-
niversay of their dedication to be celebrated?
No; for we read in Holy Scripture (in. Kings viii.) that Sol
omon built a magnificent temple for the Lord, the dedication of
which he solemnized during two weeks; that this feast was an
nually observed by the Jews, and attended by Christ Himself
(John x. 22). The early Christians, in like manner, dedicated
their churches, and solemnly commemorated their dedication
every year.
The ancient Martyrology ascribed to St. Jerome makes
mention of the consecration of the first church at Koine, built by
St. Peter. In the earliest days of Christianity, on account of
persecutions, the churches were not so solemnly dedicated as
they are in our day ; but as soon as those persecutions came to
an end, under the Emperor Constantine, who embraced Christian
ity about the year A.D. 312, the bishops caused the dedications of
churches to be solemnized with the most imposing ceremonies.
On the feast of the dedication, in the Introit of the Mass, in
order to inspire veneration for the temple dedicated to God, the
Church uses the words of the patriarch Jacob: "Terrible is
this place; it is the house of God, and the gate of heaven, and
shall be called the court of God ' ' (Gen . xxviii. IT). ' 'How lovely
are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth and
fainteth for the courts of the Lord" (Ps. Ixxxiii. 2). Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who doth renew to us every year the day of the con
secration of this Thy holy temple, and dost ever bring us again in
safety to the holy mysteries, graciously hear the prayers of Thy
people, and grant that whoever enters this temple to implore
blessings may rejoice in having obtained all his requests.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Apoc. xxi. 2-5.
In those days : I saw the holy city the new Jerusalem coming
down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne, say
ing: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and He will dwell
with them. And they shall be His people : and God Himself
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
347
with them shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning,
nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things
are passed away. And He that sat on the throne said : Behold,
I make all things new.
GOSPEL. Luke xix. 1-10.
At that time : Jesus entering in, walked through Jericho.
And behold there was a man named Zacheus : who was the chief
of the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus
Who He was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low
of stature. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore-
tree that he might see Him : for He was to pass that way. And
when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, He saw him, and
said to him : Zacheus, make haste and come down : for this day
I must abide in thy house. And he made haste and came down,
and received Him with joy. And when all saw it, they mur
mured, saying that He was gone to be a guest with a man that
was a sinner. But Zacheus standing said to the Lord, Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor : and if I have
348 FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
wronged any man of anything, I restore him fourfold. Jesus
said to him : This day is salvation come to this house, because he
also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
This gospel is read on the feast of the dedication of a church,
because through that dedication Christ comes among the congre
gation, as He once did among the household of Zacheus, and dis
penses grace and salvation, as He once did to that penitent pub
lican.
PRACTICAL LESSONS ON THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE, WHICH IS MAN
HIMSELF.
" You are the temple of the living God; as God saith, I will dwell in them."
—ii. Cor. vi. 16.
St. Bernard in his first sermon on the dedication of a church
says that the feast of dedication is our feast also. For we
too are temples — living temples of God — and as such were, in
holy Baptism, no less solemnly dedicated than are these temples
of wood and stone. Every Christian is a pure and holy temple ;
for as a church is first freed from the malice of the devil by
manifold prayers, by exorcisms, by sprinklings with holy water,
by repeated signs of the cross, by incense, so we, in holy Bap
tism, by many prayers, by exorcisms, and renunciations of Satan,
by frequent signs of the cross, by the breathings of the priest,
and finally by the sanctified water, thrice poured, with invocation
of the all-holy Trinity, are purified from "all diabolical malice
and sin, and dedicated as temples of God. But if we are such
does there not, therefore, rest upon us a sacred obligation, as St.
Augustine says, to maintain that purity which we have received
in holy Baptism, and to suffer nothing within the temple of our
hearts which can offend the eyes of so pure a God? For woe to
those who defile and desecrate the temple of God ! God Him
self, says St. Paul, shall destroy them (r. Cor. iii. 17). But the
temple of the heart is defiled by every mortal sin, particularly by
impurity. Flee, therefore, from sin ! But if you have indeed
driven God from your heart by mortal sin, and given place to
the devil, banish him again by true repentance, and dedicate
anew the temple of your heart with the blood of the Lamb,
through the holy sacraments, as a church that has been desecrate-1
is reconsecrated and reconciled.
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 349
Aspiration of St. Augustine.
O God, Who, for no merits of my own/ but purely of Thy
grace, hast, in holy Baptism, made me Thy temple, grant that I
may ever keep it pure and holy for Thee. Purify this temple
from all vices ; adorn it with virtues ; and permit nothing to be
ever found in this Thy dwelling which may offend the eyes of
Thy majesty. And grant that at last, as a living stone, hewn
and prepared in the tribulations of this world, I may be built
into the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.
PART SECOND,
CONTAINING AN INSTRUCTION ON THE VENERA
TION OF THE SAINTS, THE LIVES OF THOSE
THA T HA VE BEEN MOST REMARKABLE, AND EX
PLANATIONS OF THE EPISTLES AND GOSPELS
PROPER TO THEIR FESTIVALS.
THE VENERATION OF THE SAINTS.
WHAT is it to venerate the saints?
To venerate the saints is to show veneration, love, and
confidence towards these friends of God and coheirs with Christ
who, out of love for Him, have gone through the fight, are
now honored by Him (Ps. cxxxviii. 17), and reign with Him in
eternal happiness.
Does not the veneration of the saints infringe upon the honor
due to God?
No ; it is rather a confirmation of it, since it refers only to
God, and, in the saints, honors only Him.
Are we permitted, then, to venerate the saints?
Yes ; and not only permitted, but it is good and useful to do
so if we would honor God.
Is it also lawful to venerate the relics of the saints — that is,
their bones, and articles that belonged to them?
Without doubt it is. This, indeed, has been the unbroken
practice, both under the Old Law and the New, from the
earliest times; and God has sanctioned it by the most remark
able miracles. Thus He brought a dead man to life by the
bones of Eliseus (iv. Kings xiii. 21). The woman troubled
with an issue of blood was made whole by barely touching the
garments of Christ (Matt. ix. 22 ; Mark v. 29 ; Luke viii. 47).
By the shadow of St. Peter (Acts v. 15), and the handkerchiefs
350
ON THE INVOCATION OF THE SAINTS. 351
and aprons of St. Paul (Acts xix. 12), different diseases were
cured, and evil spirits expelled.
Why ought we to venerate the relics of the saints?
The reason is well given by the Council of Trent (Sess. xvi.).
They are precious remains of those bodies which, in their life
time, were members of Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost,
and which shall one day be raised up and glorified.
THE INVOCATION OF THE SAINTS.
Is it lawful to call upon the saints for their intercession?
If a man may call upon his brothers and sisters for help, and
upon pious people yet living for their prayers to God in his be
half, as God advised the friends of Job to do (Job xlii. 8), as St.
Paul did (i. Thess. v. 25), as non-Catholics themselves do, why
should not a man invoke the intercession of the saints in the
presence of God, who are our brethren?
But is not the invocation of the saints opposed to trust in
God, and to the mediatorship of Christ ?
No; for we do not address ourselves to the saints in any
such sense as we would address ourselves to God ; but, confess
ing ourselves to be sinners, and unworthy to appear before God,
we betake ourselves to these friends of God and glorified breth
ren of ours, that through their intercession, which prevails much
before Him, He may be gracious to us, and bestow upon us
His favors. Christ is and remains our only mediator through
Whom we have access to the Father (Eph. ii. 18) ; the saints are
only intercessors who must pray to God for us through Jesus
Christ.
Do the saints know of our prayers ?
If the holy angels rejoice over the conversion of the sinner
(Luke xv. 10), and offer up the prayers of the saints as pleasing
incense before the face of God (Apoc. viii. 3), ought not the
same privilege be allowed to the saints, as being the friends 'i
God and of Jesus Christ, and as being partakers of the same
glory as the angels? (John xv. 14, 15.) Did not Onias and
Jeremias, after their death, know of the sad condition of the
Jewish people, and zealously pray for them ? (n. Mach. xv. 12,
et seq.) God has a thousand ways of making known to them
our prayers.
352 FEAST OF ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE.
ff east of st Hnfcrew tbe Bpostle,
NOVEMBER 30.
NDREW, a brother of St. Peter, born at Betlisaida, was first
a disciple of John the Baptist. Afterwards both the
brothers were called by Christ, on the Sea of Galilee, before all
the other apostles, with the words : ' ' Come after Me, and I will
make you to become fishers of men ' ' (Mark i. 17). Immediately
they left all, and became faithful disciples of Jesus, arid wit
nesses of His deeds and sufferings, of His resurrection and ascen
sion. After the descent of the Holy Ghost Andrew travelled
through Scythia, Epirus, and Thrace, and by his teachings and
miracles converted vast numbers to Christ. As he was preach
ing at Patras, a city of Acliaia, he was violently pressed by the
proconsul, JEgeas, to offer sacrifice to the idols; but he nobly
answered him, ' ' I daily offer sacrifice to God ; not the flesh of
oxen, nor the blood of rams, but an unspotted Lamb ; and al
though all the faithful may have partaken of His flesh, yet the
Lamb remains as before He was offered, alive and undivided."
.zEgeas, enraged, committed him to prison, and on the following
day caused him to be scourged ; and as he persevered in his
declaration, condemned him to be put to death by crucifixion.
When he saw the cross, the instrument of his death, he greeted
it with joy, embraced it, and said, ' ' O good cross, that was
adorned with the limbs of Christ, thee have I long desired;
thee have I fervently loved; thee have I continually sought.
Now thou art made ready for me, according to the wish of my
heart. Take me away from men, and restore me again to my
Master, that through thee I may come to Him Who through
thee has redeemed me. ' ' After this he was nailed to the cross.
Two days he remained hanging thereon, preaching faith in Jesus,
until his soul was taken up to Him Whom he had so ardently
desired to resemble in the manner .of His death.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church announces to us how
greatly the apostles were exalted by God, Who made them
teachers and fathers of the whole world. She cries out, there
fore, "To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly hon
orable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened. Lord,
Thou hast proved me and known me ; Thou hast known my
sitting down and my rising up " (Ps. cxxxviii.). Glory be, etc.
FEAST OF ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE. 353
Prayer.
We suppliantly beseech Thy majesty, 0 Lord, that as blessed
Andrew the apostle was both a preacher and ruler of Thy
Church, so he may be with Thee as a perpetual intercessor for
us. Through Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. x. 10-18.
Brethren: With the heart, we believe unto justice; but,
with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the
Scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in Him, shall not be
confounded. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the
Greek : for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon
Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord,
shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him, in Whom
they have not believed? Or how shall they believe Him, of
Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without
a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as
it is written : How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good
things ! But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith :
Lord, who hath believed our report? Faith then cometh by
hearing : and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say : Have
they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound hath gone forth into
all the earth and their words unto the ends of the whole world.
GOSPEL. Matt. iv. 18-22.
At that time : Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And He saith
to them : Come ye after Me, and I will make you to be fishers of
men. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed Him.
And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James
the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee
their father, mending their nets: and He called them. And
they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed Him.
Explanation.
The alacrity with which Andrew followed the call of Jesus
354
FEAST OF ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE.
teaches us: 1. That we should, on the spot, give ear to God
when He inspires us with a good thought, or calls us to a better
course of life. 2. That, in order to follow His voice, we should
cast behind us all desires for temporal goods, and even leave our
parents, if they should prove a hindrance to us, for " he that
loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me"
(Matt. x. 37).
Aspiration.
Mayest Thou be forever praised, most amiable Jesus, that
Thou didst choose, not the wise, the mighty, or the rich, but,
what in the eyes of the world was foolishness, to confound the
wisdom and power of the world, and didst accordingly graciously
look upon poor fishermen, and exalt them to the height of the
apostolic dignity. Look also with fatherly regards upon us,
Thy frail children ; call, nay, draw, us in such manner to Thee
that, after the example of St. Andrew, we may suffer nothing
in the world to detain us from following Thee, and may always
glory in Thy cross, which is our salvation, our life, and our
resurrection.
FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. 355
ffeast ot St. frauds f a\>ier.
DECEMBER 3.
TjlRANcis XAVIER, surnamed the Apostle of the Indies, wag
born of noble parents April 7, 1506, at Xavier, a castle
near Pampeluna, in Spain. In his eighteenth year he became
one of the first members of the Society of Jesus, at Paris, and
from that moment gave himself up so earnestly and persever-
ingly to meditation, self-denial, and the practice of Christian
virtues that by no desire was he so much animated as by that
of laboring and suffering for the glory of God and the salvation
of men, wherever and however it might please God.
In the year 1541 he was sent as missionary to India. Of
his labors and sufferings there his works bear witness. He
preached the Gospel in fifty-two kingdoms, great and small, of
India and Japan, and baptized about a hundred thousand pagans
and Mahometans. Wherever he came, the idols' temples were
thrown down, and churches built to the true God. He died
in 1552, poor and destitute of all bodily comforts, but rejoicing
in the Lord, with these words, "Lord, in Thee have I hoped;
let me never be confounded."
Let us learn from St. Francis Xavier to labor, according to our
ability, for the glory of God and the salvation of our neighbor.
-Although we cannot become missionaries, we yet can pray, and
we can join the Association for the Propagation of the Faith.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : "I spoke of Thy
testimonies before kings and was not ashamed. I meditated
also on Thy commandments, which I loved exceedingly. Praise
the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, alive people: for His
mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord re-
maineth forever."
The epistle is the same as on the feast of St. Andrew, p. 353.
GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 16-18.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Go ye into the
whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth
not, shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them
that believe : In My name they shall cast out devils : they shall
speak with new tongues : they shall take up serpents : and if
356 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them : they
shall lay their hands upon the sick and they shall recover.
Prayer.
O God, Who, by the preaching and miracles of blessed
Francis, wast pleased to add unto Thy Church the nations of the
Indies, mercifully grant that we who venerate his glorious
merits may also follow the example of his virtues. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
jfeast of tbe immaculate Conception of tbe 3Blesset>
Dirgin
DECEMBER 8.
ON this and the following eight days the Church celebrates,
with particular solemnity, the immaculate conception of
the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, who, from all eternity, was
chosen to be the daughter of the heavenly Father, the spouse
of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of the divine Kedeemer, and,
by consequence, the queen of angels and of men. The con
sideration of these prerogatives convinced the most enlightened
fathers and teachers of the Catholic Church that she was con
ceived immaculate, that is, without original sin. It is very re
markable that among the shining hosts of saints who have, in
every century, adorned the Church no one wrote against this
belief, while we find it confirmed by the decisions of the holy
fathers from the earliest times. Pope Pius IX., forced, as it
were, by the faith and devotion of the faithful throughout the
world, finally, on December 8, 1854, sanctioned, as a dogma of
faith falling within the infallible rule of Catholic traditions, this
admirable prerogative of the Blessed Virgin. It is, therefore,
now no longer, as formerly, a pious belief, but an article of the
faith, that Mary, like the purest morning light which precedes
the rising of the most brilliant sun, was, from the first instant
of her conception, free from original sin.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: "Hail, holy
parent, who as a happy mother brought forth the King Who
rules heaven and earth from eternity to eternity." " My heart
hath uttered a good word, I speak my works to the King."
Glory be to the Father, etc.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
Prayer.
357
We beseech Thee, O Lord, to bestow on Thy servants the
gift of heavenly grace, that, for those to whom the Blessed
Virgin's maternity was the beginning of salvation, the votive
solemnity of her immaculate conception may procure increase
of peace. Through Christ our Lord, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Prov. viii. 22-35.
The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His ways, before
lie made anything from the beginning. I was set up from
eternity, and of old before the earth was made. The depths
were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the
fountains of waters as yet sprung out : the mountains with their
huge bulk had not as yet been established : before the hills I
was brought forth: He had not yet made the earth, nor the
rivers, nor the poles of the world. When He prepared the
heavens, I was present : when with a certain law and compass
He enclosed the depths : when He established the sky above, and
poised the fountains of waters: when He compassed the sea
with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not
358 FEAST OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE.
pass their limits: when He balanced the foundations of the
earth, I was with Him forming all things ; and was delighted
every day, playing before Him at all times; playing in the
world, and My delights were to be with the children of men.
Now, therefore, ye children, hear Me: Blessed are they that
keep My ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it
not. Blessed is the man that heareth Me, and that watcheth
daily at My gates, and waiteth at the posts of My doors. He
that shall find Me shall find life, and shall have salvation from
the Lord.
Explanation.
This lesson is, in the literal sense, a eulogy on the divine
and uncreated wisdom, which before all things was in God;
through which all things were made, disposed, and preserved ;
which rejoices in its works, and calls upon all its creatures,
especially on men, to render to it love and obedience. Most
of what is here said is also to be applied to Mary, of whom it
may with truth be said that, as the holiest and most admirable
of all creatures, she occupies the first place in the heart of God.
Therefore the Church also refers to her those words of the wise
man: " I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first
born of all creatures."
GOSPEL. Luke i. 26-28.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from
God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and
the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in,
said unto her: Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
jf east of St. Ubomas tbe Epostle*
DECEMBER 21.
THOMAS, also called Didymus, or the twin, was a fisherman of
Galilee. After having been received among the apostles
he accompanied Jesus in all His journeys, and uniformly showed
docility, zeal, and love towards Him, particularly on the occa
sion of His going to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead.
For when the apostles were afraid to go thither, because the
FEAST OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE. 359
Jews desired to kill Jesus, Thomas, full of courage, said, " Let
us also go, that we may die with Him" (John xi. 16). His
faith, indeed, wavered for a moment in regard to the resurrec
tion of Christ ; but no sooner had Christ satisfied him thereof by-
showing His wounds, than he cried out with firm faith, ' ' My
Lord and my God. ' ' St. Gregory thereupon says, < ' God
overruled the doubting of Thomas to our good, since that very
doubt has profited us more than the ready belief of the other dis
ciples, inasmuch as thereby Christ was induced to give so much
clearer proofs of His resurrection, in order to confirm us in the
belief of it. Thomas showed the firmness of his faith by the
innumerable labors which he undertook, and by the sufferings
that he endured for Christ. He traversed the most extensive
and remote countries, and preached Jesus to the Armenians,
Medes, Persians, Parthians, Hyr cardans, Bactrians, and other
barbarous and wicked nations, enduring in the course of his
labors, with astonishing firmness, the greatest sufferings for the
honor of God and the salvation of men. Finally he came to
India, when, in the city of Calamina, or Meliapor, he under
went a glorious martyrdom, being pierced through with lances,
by order of the idolatrous priests, as he was praying at the foot
of the cross. So much did the apostle do to repair a single
fault ; but we, who every day commit so many — what do we do
to repair them?
The Introit of the Mass is the same as on the feast of St.
Andrew, page 352.
Prayer.
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to glory in the solemnity
of Thy blessed apostle Thomas, that we may be ever assisted by
his patronage, and follow his faith with suitable devotion.
Through Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. EpJies. ii. 19-22.
Brethren : Now you are no more strangers and foreigners :
but you are fellow- citizens with the saints, and the domestics of
God. Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone : in Whom all
the building, being framed together, groweth up into a holy
temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are built together into
a habitation of God in the Spirit.
360 FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN".
The gospel and an explanation of it are to be found on the
first Sunday after Easter, page 219.
Prayer.
O most benign Jesus, Who didst permit the unbelieving
Thomas to touch the prints of Thy holy wounds, and didst there
by deliver him from his unbelief, oh, heal the wounds of my
heart ; give me a living, firm, and enduring faith in Thee, such
as may ever incite me to do what shall be pleasing to thee, and
to shun whatever may displease Thee. I beseech it of Thee by
Thy mercy to Thomas in showing the prints of Thy wounds to
him.
ffeast ot St. Stepben*
DECEMBER 26.
THE epistle of to-day contains a short account of the life and
sufferings of this saint. It only remains to be added that,
on account of his virtues, his wisdom, and his zeal for the faith,
the apostles thought him worthy to be chosen the first of the
seven deacons, whose office it was, in addition to the preaching
of the word of God, to serve the poor, and properly to dis
tribute the alms of the faithful. The Introit says : ' ' Princes
sat and spoke against me, and the wicked persecuted me ; help
me, O Lord my God, for Thy servant was employed in Thy
justifications. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk
in the law of the Lord." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to imitate what we
honor, that we also may learn to love our neighbors, as we cele
brate the feast of Him Who knew how to beseech even for His
persecutors, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Acts vi. 8-10 ; vii. 54-59.
In those days : Stephen full of grace and fortitude did great
wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of
that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the
Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of
Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. Arid they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Now hear
ing these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed
FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN. 361
with their teeth at him. But he being full of the Holy Ghost,
looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said : Be
hold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on
the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice,
stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him.
And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him : and
the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young
man whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking,
and saying : Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his
knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in
the Lord.
Instruction.
Stephen is unjustly persecuted ; yet he prays for his perse
cutors. Can we excuse ourselves if we do not love our enemies?
Were not Stephen, and others who have imitated him, men
like ourselves ? With the grace of God, could not we do what
they have done ? Could we call ourselves Christians were we
362 FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN.
not to do this ? No ; for the love of our neighbor, and of our
enemy also, is the chief token of the Christian ; since it is only
by this love that we become like Christ, and resemble our
heavenly Father, Who makes His sun to shine upon the evil
and the good, and sendeth rains upon the just and upon the
unjust (Matt. v. 45). Let us, therefore, imitate the love of God,
of Christ, and of St. Stephen, and then we may one day be
able to give up our souls with calmness into the hands of our
Maker.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxiii. 34-39.
At that time Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees : Behold
I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes : and some
of them you will put to death and crucify, and some you will
scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
that upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed
upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the
blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed
between the temple and the altar. Amen I say to you, all
these things shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jeru
salem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are
sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy
children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings,
and thou wouldst not ! Behold your house shall be left to you
desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see Me henceforth
till you say : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Those in our days who stone and kill the prophets and
preachers are those who, by their evil backbiting, defame their
pastors, who mock at and despise preachers and sermons; for
to the servants of God this is a great torment and source of
grief ; it destroys their courage and paralyzes their efficiency.
On this account it provokes the anger of God, as through the
prophets He often told the Jews.
Supplication to St. Stephen.
O St. Stephen, first of the martyrs, who wast filled with
fortitude, grace, and love, whose guiltless face shone like the
face of a pure angel, I beseech thee, by the grace which ren
dered thee worthy to see heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the
right hand of the Father, that thou wouldst, by thy prayers,
• procure for me from God a pure conscience, and a holy, meek
FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE. 363
love, that like thee I may readily forgive those who injure me ;
may pray for them ; may not only desire for them whatever is
good, but may do them good indeed, and thereby merit the
grace of a happy death. Through Jesus Christ our L^d,
etc. Amen.
Jf east of St. 3obn tbe Hpostle.
DECEMBER 27.
JOHN, the brother of St. James the Greater, was a son of
Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee, and of Salome, a cousin of
the Blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. iv. 21). He was the youngest
of the apostles, and, with Peter and James, was the most
trusted of the disciples of Jesus, by Whom he was most ten
derly loved, on which account he is called the Disciple of
Love. Of this Jesus gave the most convincing evidence when,
at the Last Supper, He allowed that disciple to lean upon His
breast, and when, from the cross, He committed to the care of
John His own Mother. After the ascension John preached
the Gospel in Palestine ; afterwards went to Asia Minor, fixed
his residence in Ephesus, and established many churches there.
He was, with the other apostles, taken prisoner and scourged
by the Jews, and in the year 95, under the Emperor Domitian,
before the Latin Gate, at Rome, was thrown into a vessel of
boiling oil. Having endured this torture without injury, he
was then banished to the island of Patmos, where, by command
of the Lord, he wrote the Apocalypse, or Revelation, concern
ing the fortunes of the Church. On returning from his banish
ment he again governed the churches of Asia Minor as chief
pastor, as he had done before, and, at the age of nearly one
hundred years, died at Ephesus a peaceful arid natural death.
The Introit of the Mass reads : " In the midst of the Church
the Lord opened his mouth, and filled him with the spirit of
wisdom and understanding, and clothed him with a robe of
glory. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to
Thy name, O Most High." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Mercifully illustrate Thy Church, O Lord, that, enlightened
by the doctrines of Thy blessed apostle and evangelist St.
364
FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE.
John, she may arrive at gifts everlasting. Through Christ our
Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xv. 1-6.
He that feareth God will do good : and he that possesseth
justice shall lay hold on her, arid she will meet him as an honor
able mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him and
give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she
shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved : and
she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded : and she
shall exalt him among his neighbors, and in the midst of the
Church she shall open his month, and shall fill him with the
spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with
a robe of glory. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and
gladness, and our Lord God shall cause him to inherit an ever
lasting name.
ON PURITY.
" He that loves wisdom," saith the Holy Ghost, " will obtain
it, for it will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body
FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. 365
subject to sins" ("Wis. i. 4). St. John was from his childhood
an angel of purity, on which account he was particularly be
loved by Jesus, and endowed by the Holy Ghost with such
wisdom and knowledge that, as St. Augustine has remarked,
he begins his gospel in a manner more lofty and sublime than
the other three evangelists. For while they walk with the
God- man upon earth, speaking comparatively little of His
divinity, St. John, as if despising the world, soars beyond the
vault of heaven, above the hosts of angels, and comes to Him
by Whom all things are made, saying, " In the beginning was
the Word." At the Last Supper he was permitted to lean on
the bosom of Jesus, but what he there drank in secretly he im
parted openly. Apply thyself, therefore, to purity of heart, and
thou shalt be like St. John, a beloved disciple of Jesus, and
shalt be filled with heavenly wisdom.
GOSPEL. John xxi. 19-24.
At that time : Jesus said to Peter : Follow Me. Peter turn
ing about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who
also leaned on His breast at supper, and said : Lord, who is he
that shall betray Thee? Him therefore when Peter had seen,
he saith to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus
saith to him : So I will have him to remain till I come, what is
it to thee? follow thou Me. This saying therefore went abroad
among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And
Jesus did riot say to him : He should not die ; but, So I will
have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? This
is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath
written these things : and we know that his testimony is true.
ffeast of tbe f>ols IJnnocents.
DECEMBER 28.
THE account of the martyrdom of these children is given in
the gospel of to-day. The Church justly honors them as
martyrs, since they confessed Christ, if not by the mouth, yet
by their death, which they suffered by reason of Herod's hatred
against Christ.
The Introit of the Mass reads : ' i Out of the mouth of in
fants and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise, because of Thy
366 FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
enemies, O Lord. O Lord, how admirable is Thy name in the
whole earth." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Whose praise the martyred innocents confessed on
this day — not by speaking, but by dying — mortify in us all the
evils of vices, that our life also may confess by actions Thy
faith, which our tongue proclaims. Through Our Lord Jesus
Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Apoc. xiv. 1-5.
In those days I beheld a Lamb standing upon Mount Sion,
and with Him an hundred forty-four thousand having His
name, and the name of His Father written on their fore
heads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of
many waters, and as the voice of great thunder : and the
voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers, harping
on their harps. And they sung as it were a new canticle,
before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the
ancients : and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred
forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.
These are they who were not defiled with women : for they are
virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.
These were purchased from among men, the first-fruits to God
and to the Lamb : and in their mouth there was found no lie :
for they are without spot before the throne of God.
GOSPEL. Matt. ii. 13-18.
At that time : An angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to
Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and His Mother,
and fly into Egypt : and be there until I shall tell thee :
for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to de
stroy Him. Who arose, and took the child and His Mother
by night, and retired into Egypt : and he was there until the
death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke
by the prophet, saying : Out of Egypt have I called My Son.
Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the Wise Men,
was exceeding angry ; and sending killed all the men-children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had dili-
FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
367
gently inquired of the "Wise Men. Then was fulfilled that
which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying : A voice
in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning ; Rachel
bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because
they are not.
What persons are like Herod?
All those who destroy innocent children, in body or in soul :
for example, imprudent and careless mothers who injure the
fruit of their womb by excessive dancing, by heavy labor, by
vehement anger or immoderate grief; unmanly men who are
cruel to their wives while with child, who strike them, incite
them to anger, or terrify them ; heedless parents who neglect
their little ones, who take them into bed at the risk of suffo
cating them, who do not take pains to keep them clean and
healthy; those corrupt and godless women who destroy the
fruit of their shame either before or after birth, and while yet
unbaptized. But more cruel than all these, and even than Herod
himself, are they who scandalize little children by impure con
versations, by indecent songs, by acts of impurity in their pres-
368 FEAST OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.
ence, or by inciting them to the like ; for thereby they plunge
the souls of the children into destruction.
ffeast of St. Paul tbe Bpostle,
JANUARY 25.
THE history of this conversion is fully given in the epistle
taken from the Acts.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows: "I know Whom I
have believed, and I am certain that He is able to keep that
which I have committed unto Him against that day, being a
just judge. Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me, Thou
hast known my sitting down, and my rising up." Glory be to
the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, "Who didst teach the whole world by the preaching
of blessed Paul the apostle, grant us, we beseech Thee, that
we, who this day celebrate his conversion, may advance towards
Thee by his example. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts ix. 1-22.
In those days : Saul as yet breathing out -threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues :
that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring
them bound to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it
came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus : and suddenly a
light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the
ground, he heard a voice saying to him : Saul, Saul, why perse-
cutest thou Me? Who said: Who art Thou, Lord? And He
said : I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to
kick against the goad. And he trembling and astonished, said :
Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said to
him : Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee
what thou must do. 'Now the men who went in company with
him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.
And Saul arose from the ground, and when Ids eyes were opened,
he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought
him to Damascus. And he was there three days without sight,
and he did neither eat nor drink. Now there was a certain dis-
FEAST OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.
369
ciple at Damascus, named Ananias : and the Lord said to him
in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said to him : Arise, and go into the street that is
called Strait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of
Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. (And he saw a man named
Ananias, coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he
might receive his sight.) But Ananias answered : Lord, I have
heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy
saints in Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief
priests, to bind all that invoke Thy name. And the Lord said
to him : Go thy way, for this man is to Me a vessel of election,
to carry My name before the gentiles, and kings, and the chil
dren of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must
suffer for My name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and
entered into the house : and laying his hands upon him, he said :
Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, He that appeared to
thee in the way as thou earnest: that thou mayst receive thy
sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately
there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his
370 FEAST OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.
sight; and rising up he was baptized. And when he had taken
meat he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that
were at Damascus for some days. And immediately he preached
Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. And all
that heard him were astonished, and said : Is not this he who
persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name ; and
came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to
the chief priests? But Saul increased much more in strength,
and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming
that this is the Christ.
What do we learn from this history?
Not to despise any sinner, nor to despair of his salvation :
for, like Paul on the road to Damascus, the greatest sinner may,
by the grace of God, be suddenly converted, and become a saint.
At the command of God he accepted Ananias as his leader in
the way of salvation, and became as zealous for the honor of
Christ as he had previously been intent on persecuting Him.
In like manner, a convert must shut his eyes to all by which he
has heretofore been led astray, and must give heed to that only
which God commands.
GOSPEL. Matt. xix. 27-29.
At that time Peter said to Jesus : Behold, we have left all
things, and have followed Thee : what, therefore, shall we have?
And Jesus said to them : Amen I say to you, that you, who
have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man
shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve
seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that
hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
This gospel teaches that he who renounces the world, its
pleasures and its riches, shall receive the grace of God, virtues,
interior consolation, and eternal happiness, which are a hundred
fold, that is, infinitely, more precious than worldly goods.
Prayer.
O St. Paul, great apostle, who, from being an enemy, be
came the most zealous friend and preacher of Christ, procure
for me from Him, I beseech thee, grace at last truly to know
FEAST OF ST. BRIDGET, ABBESS AND PATRONESS OF IRELAND. 371
Him, Whom I have heretofore so often denied, offended, and,
by my sins, crucified anew ; to follow Him, and, after thy ex
ample 5 to be henceforth as diligent in doing justice as I have
formerly been in practising evil ; that I may one day attain to
that happiness which thou hast gained. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc. Amen.
jf east ot St. JBri&aet, Hbbess anfc patroness of
Urelanfc.
8
FEBRUARY 1.
T. BRIDGET was born about the year 453 at Fochard, in Ulster.
When about twenty years old she received the veil from
St. Mel, the nephew and disciple of St. Patrick. So many
sought the religious life under her direction that a convent, the
first in Ireland, was erected for her and she was made superior.
From this parent stem branched forth other convents in different
parts of Ireland, all which acknowledged her as their mother
and foundress. Several churches in England and Scotland are
dedicated to God under her name, and some also in Germany
and in France. After seventy years devoted to the practice of
the most sublime virtues, corporal infirmities admonished our
saint that the time of her dissolution was nigh. For half a
century she had irrevocably consecrated herself to God, and dur
ing that period great results had been attained. The day on
which our abbess was to quit this life, February 1, 523, having
arrived, she received the blessed body and blood of her Lord in
the Blessed Eucharist, and, as it would seem, immediately aftei
her spirit passed forth, and went to possess Him in that heavenly
country where He is seen face to face and enjoyed without dan-
gc r of ever losing Him. Her body was interred in the church
adjoining her convent, but was some time after exhumed, and
deposited in a splendid shrine near the high altar. In the ninth
century, the country being desolated by the Danes, the remains
of St. Bridget were removed to Down-Patrick, where they were
deposited in the same grave with those of St. Patrick. Their
bodies, together with that of St. Columba, were translated after
wards to the cathedral of the same city, but their monument was
destroyed in the reign of King Henry VIII. The head of St,
Bridget is now kept in the church of the Jesuits at Lisbon.
372 FEAST OF ST. BRIDGET, ABBESS AND PATRONESS OF IRELAND.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : ' i Thou hast loved
justice and hated iniquity ; therefore, O God, Thy God hath
anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. My
heart hath uttered a good word. I speak my works to the
King." Glory be, etc.
Prayer.
Give ear to us, O God our Saviour, that, as we celebrate with
joy the solemnity of blessed Bridget Thy virgin, so we may
improve in the affection of piety. Through, etc.
EPISTLE, ii. Cor. x 17, 18 ; xi. 1, 2.
Brethren : He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For
not he who commendeth himself is approved, but he whom God
commendeth. "Would to God you could bear with some little of
my folly, but do bear with me. For I am jealous of you with
the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 1-13.
At that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable : Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who, taking
PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 373
their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
And five of them were foolish, and five wise: but the five
foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them :
but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the
bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at
midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh,
go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and
trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise : Give
us of your oil : for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered,
saying : Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you,
go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now
whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came : and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was
shut. But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord,
Lord, open to us. But He answering said : Amen I say to you,
I know you not. Watch ye therefore, because you know not
the day nor the hour
purification of tbe Blessefc IDiratn
Commonly Called C'indlemas-Day.
FEBRUARY 2.
ON this day the Church solemnly celebrates the presentation
of Jesus in the temple, and the obedience and humility
both of Mary and her divine Son, who, though not subject to
the law in regard to purification and presentation, yet subjected
themselves to it. Hence this feast is called the Purification of
the Virgin Mary. In common speech we call it also Candlemas,
because on this day the candles required for the divine service
are blessed and carried in procession.
What is the design of this custom?
1. It is to remind us that Jesus, the light of the world, was
offered up to His heavenly Father, by Mary, in the temple at
Jerusalem, where He was called by Simeon "a light for the
revelation of the gentiles, and the gbry of the people of Israel."
2. To remind us, also, of several important truths, to which the
priest refers in the prayers at the blessings. Thus he prays
that as the earthly light dispels the darkness of night, so Jesus,
with the light of His divine doctrine, may clear away our spirit-
374 PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
ual blindness and ignorance, and lead us in the way of virtue ;
that as the Holy Ghost enlightened Simeon, so He may also en-
lighten us to acknowledge Jesus as the true light, to love Him
and follow Him, to keep our hearts from the way of sin, and to
guide them in the way of virtue, and to kindle them with the
fire of holy love ; finally, that God may preserve, in soul and
body, those who use blessed candles with devotion, may hear
their prayers, and grant them entrance into the kingdom of the
eternal and ever-blessed light.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings : ' ' We have re
ceived Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple ; accord
ing to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of
the earth ; Thy right hand is full of justice. Great is the Lord
and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in His
holy mountain." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Almighty, everlasting God, we suppliantly beseech Thy
majesty that, as Thy only-begotten Son was this day presented
in the temple in the substance of our flesh, so Thou wouldst
grant us to be presented to Thee with purified souls. Through
the same Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Mai iii. 1-4.
Thus saith the Lord : Behold I send My angel, and he shall
prepare the way before My face. And presently the Lord "Whom
you seek, and the angel of the testament whom you desire,
shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of
hosts: and who shall be able to think of the day of his coming?
and who shall stand to see him ? for he is like a refining fire, and
like the fullers' herb : and he shall sit refining and cleansing the
silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them
as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord
in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall
please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years,
saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 22-32.
At that time: After the days of Mary's purification accord
ing to the law of Moses were accomplished, they carried Jesus
PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MART. 375
to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the
law of the Lord : Every male opening the womb shall be called
holy to the Lord; and to offer a sacrifice according as it is
written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves, or two
young pigeons. And behold there was a man in Jerusa
lem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel : and the Holy Ghost was in him.
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he
should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when His
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to
the custom of the law : he also took Him into his arms, and blessed
God, and said : Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord,
according to Thy word, in peace : because my eyes have seen
Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all
peoples ; a light to the revelation of the gentiles, and the glory
of Thy people Israel.
Explanation.
The Blessed Virgin presented herself and her divine Son at
the temple so as not to give scandal to such as were ignorant of
their being exempt from the law, to show from the first that
Jesus was come to redeem sinners, and to leave us an example of
humility and obedience. Mary offered the gift of a pair of
doves, like the poor, because she was poor, and was not ashamed
to acknowledge it before the world.
INSTRUCTION FOR WOMEN AFTER CHILDBIRTH.
The law of purification in the Old Testament, it is true, no
longer applies to Christian women, because the Church has done
away with Jewish ceremonies. But the spirit and intention of
that law the Church would yet have complied with. She per
mits women, therefore, to remain at home, with a good conscience,
for six weeks after childbirth, or so long as circumstances may
require, without attending divine service, in order to care for
their health. This permission is, at the same time, an excellent
admonition — to women, that, in order to their recovery, they
should refrain from anger, from exposure, from hard labor, from
injurious food; to men, not to refuse their wives during this
376 FEAST OF ST. BLASE, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
period, set apart by God Himself under the Old Law, the re»i
and attention which their nature requires.
But when this time is past the Church desires that women
should, after the example of Mary, repair to the church with
their children, to procure the blessing of the priest, to give thanks
to God for their safe delivery, to dedicate their children to Him,
and to implore of Him, with the priest, grace to bring up their
offspring in piety and holiness. In this consists the so-called
" churching of women"; and, from what has been said, it is
evident, not only that it contains nothing to be ashamed of, but
that it should by no means be omitted by such as desire God's
blessing.
The feeble health of both women and children after child
birth is almost always owing to their having injured themselves
by want of care.
Prayer for Women after Childbirth.
Almighty and merciful God, Who didst lay upon our mother
Eve the tit punishment for her disobedience that she should bear
children in sorrow, I offer to Thee all the pains of my child-bear
ing in propitiation for my sins ; and I thank Thee that, through
Thy help, the fruit of my womb has been safely brought forth into
the world, and new-born in Baptism. According to the example of
the Mother of Thy only-begotten Son, I also offer to Thee my
child for Thy holy service, and will earnestly strive to bring it up
to Thy honor. To this end give me, through the intercession
of the most blessed Virgin, Thy grace; bless me and my child,
and grant that we may live according to Thy will here, and
hereafter may obtain everlasting happiness. Through Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, etc. Amen.
jfeast of St. Blase, Btsbop anfc
FEBRUARY 3.
T. BLASE was born at Sebaste, in Armenia, of which place he
was subsequently appointed bishop, on the solicitation of the
people, and suffered martyrdom in 316, during the persecution
under Licinius. This saint wrought many miracles, and is yet
S
FEAST OF ST. MATTHIAS THE APOSTLE. 377
invoked in dangerous diseases of the throat, because he saved the
life of a rich widow's son, who had nearly died in consequence
of swallowing a fish-bone. The Church accordingly sanctions
a special blessing of throats on his day. Holding the blessed
candles near the throat, in the form of a cross, the priest says :
' ' Through the merits and intercession of St. Blase, bishop and
martyr, God deliver thee from all diseases of the throat, and
preserve thee from every other evil. In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
If we take part in this pious custom of the Church, we should,
above all, consider that while we unite our supplications with the
prayers of the Church, to be preserved from bodily illness, we
ought to guard our souls against sin, particularly sins of the
tongue and of the palate, as being more dangerous ills than
any that can afflict our bodies.
Prayer.
O God, Who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of St.
Blase, Thy holy bishop and martyr, mercifully grant us, in the
fulness of Thy love, that we may rejoice in the protection of
him whose festival we to-day joyfully celebrate. Through
Christ our Lord, etc.
ffeast ot St. /l&attbfas tbe Hpostle.
FEBRUARY 24 OR 25.
OF this apostle nothing certain is known beyond what is con
tained in the epistle.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings : " To me Thy
friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their princi
pality is exceedingly strengthened. Lord, Thou hast proved me
and known me ; Thou hast known my sitting down and my ris
ing up." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who didst associate blessed Matthias to the company
of the apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that, by his intercession,
378 FEAST OF ST. MATTHIAS THE APOSTLE.
we may ever experience Thy tender mercy towards us. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts i. 15-26.
In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren
said (now the number of persons together was about an hun
dred and twenty) : Men, brethren, the Scripture must needs be
fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of
David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that ap
prehended Jesus: who was numbered with us, and had ob
tained part of this ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a
field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged burst asunder
in the midst : and all his bowels gushed out. And it became
known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same
field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The
field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms : Let
their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell
therein. And his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of
these men who have companied with us, all the time that the
Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the
baptism of John until the day wherein He was taken up from
us, one of these must be made a witness with us of His resur
rection. And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas,
who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying, they
said: Thou, Lord, Who knowest the hearts of all men, show
whether of these two Thou hast chosen to take the place of this
ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by trans
gression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they
gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was num
bered with the eleven apostles.
GOSPEL. Matt. xi. 25-30.
At that time Jesus answered and said : I confess to Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to
little ones. Yea, Father : for so hath it seemed good in Thy
sight. All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no
one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one
know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please
the Son to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you that labor and are
FEAST OF ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND APOSTLE OF IRELAND. 379
burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me, because I am meek, and humble of heart : and
you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet and My
burden light.
The wise and prudent referred to in this gospel are the proud
scribes and Pharisees, who, in their imaginary wisdom, would
not receive the incarnate and suffering Son of God, but despised
and rejected Him; in general, they represent also all who in
their pride would measure everything by their own understand
ing, and to whom, consequently, the mysteries of faith seem
foolishness. The little ones are the apostles, who, although
taken from a low condition of life, without a learned education,
but rather ignorant, were enlightened by God to know the
deepest mysteries, because they had docile and humble hearts,
desirous of salvation. Thus God gives grace to the humble,
while the proud go away empty.
To those who bear His yoke, and follow Him, Christ prom
ises peace of mind, temporal and eternal happiness; and, indeed,
we must confess that as often as we are disquieted and discon
tented the cause of it is our selfishness and want of submission
to the will of God, our pride and vanity. Learn, then, to love
to be meek and humble, if you would enjoy peace, here or here
after.
Prayer to St. Matthias.
O St. Matthias, glorious apostle and martyr of Jesus
Christ, who, by the special providence of God, wast added to
the eleven apostles in the room of the traitor, I humbly be
seech thee to obtain for us the grace of Him Who chose thee
from all eternity, that, assisted thereby, we may, after thy ex
ample, keep the commandments of God, practise good works,
and thus merit to be numbered with the elect. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, etc. Amen.
ffeast of St. Patrick, Bfsbop an& Hpostle of Hrelanfc.
MARCH 17.
ST. PATRICK was born towards the close of the fourth century,
but the place of his birth is not positively known. Britain
and Scotland both claim the honor, but the best authorities seem
380 FEAST OF ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND APOSTLE OF IRELAND.
to agree upon Brittany, in France. In his sixteenth year he was
carried into captivity by certain barbarians, who took him into
Ireland, where he was obliged to keep cattle on the mountains
and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst snows, rain,
and ice. The young man had recourse to God with his whole
heart in fervent prayer and fasting : and from that time faith and
the love of God acquired continually new strength in his tender
soul. After six months spent in slavery under the same master
St. Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to return to his
own country, and informed that a ship was then ready to sail
thither. He went at once to the seacoast, though at a great
distance, and found the vessel. After three days' sail they
made land, but wandered twenty-seven days through deserts,
and were a long while distressed for want of provisions.
Patrick assured the company that if they would address them
selves with their whole hearts to the true God He would hear
and succor them. They did so, and on the same day met with
a herd of swine. From that time provisions never failed them,
till on the twenty- seventh day they came into a country that was
cultivated and inhabited.
Some years afterwards he was again led captive, but re
covered his liberty after two months. When he was at home
with his parents, God manifested to him, by divers visions, that
He destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland.
The writers of his life say that after his second captivity he
travelled into Gaul and Italy, and saw St. Martin, St. Germanus
of Auxerre, and Pope Celestine, and that he received his mission
and the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died in 432.
Great opposition was made to his episcopal consecration and
mission, both by his own relations and by the clergy; but the
Lord, Whose will he consulted by earnest prayer, supported him,
and he persevered in his resolution. He forsook his family,
sold his birthright and dignity to serve strangers, and conse
crated his soul to God, to carry His name to the ends of the
earth. In this disposition he passed into Ireland to preach the
Gospel, penetrating into the remotest corners ; and such was the
fruit of his preachings and sufferings that he baptized an infinite
number of people. He ordained everywhere clergymen, in
duced women to live in holy widowhood and continence, conse
crated virgins to Christ, and instituted monks. He took noth-
FEAST OF ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND APOSTLE OF IRELAND. 381
ing from the many thousands whom he baptized, but gave freely
of his own, both to pagans and Christians, distributed large
alms to the poor in the provinces where he passed, and main
tained and educated many children, whom he trained to serve at
the altar. The happy success of his labors cost him many perse
cutions. He died and was buried at Down, in Ulster. His
body was found there in a church of his name in 1185, and
translated to another part of the same church.
Introit of the Mass : ' ' The Lord made to him a covenant of
peace, to be the prince of the sanctuary and of His people, that
the dignity of priesthood should be to him forever. O Lord,
remember David and all his meekness." Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who wast pleased to send blessed Patrick, Thy
bishop and confessor, to preach Thy glory to the gentiles, grant
that, by his merits and intercession, we may, through Thy
grace, be enabled to keep Thy commandments. Through, eta.
382 FEAST OF ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND APOSTLE OF IRELAND.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xliv. 17, 20, 22, 21 ; xlv. 3, 8, 20.
Behold, a great priest, who, in his days, pleased God, and
was found just ; and in the time of wrath was made a reconcilia
tion. There was not found one like him that kept the law of
the Most High. Therefore with an oath the Lord made him
to increase among his people. He gave him the blessing of all
nations, and confirmed His covenant upon his head. He
acknowledged him in His blessings ; He preserved for him His
mercy ; and he found grace before the eyes of the Lord. He
glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him a crown of
glory. He established with him an everlasting covenant, and
gave him a great priesthood, and made him blessed in glory.
To execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise in His
name, and to offer Him a worthy incense for an odor of sweet
ness.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 14-23.
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples : A
man going into a far country called his servants, and delivered
to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, and to
another two, and to another one, to every one according to his
proper ability : and immediately he took his journey. And he
that had received the five talents went his way, and traded with
the same, and gained other five. And in like manner he that
had received the two gained other two. But he that had re
ceived the one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his
lord's money. But after a long time the lord of those servants
came, and reckoned with them. And he that had received the
five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord,
thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other
five over and above. His lord said to him : Well done, good
and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few
things I will place thee over many things, enter thou into the
joy of thy lord. And he also that had received the two talents
came and said : Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me : be
hold I have gained other two. His lord said to him: Well
done, good and faithful servant : because thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will place thee over many things, enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH.
383
JFeast ot St. Soseplx
MARCH 19.
ST. JOSEPH was descended from the kingly line of David, and
was a kinsman of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. i. 1-16).
The Gospel gives him the praise of being just (Matt. i. 19), that
is, a man distinguished for all virtues. And surely, as he was
chosen from all other men by God to be the foster-father of
His Son, he undoubtedly excelled, in virtues and sanctity, all
saints then living. Of his youth nothing certain is known to
us, and of his later life we know only what the Gospel relates.
He was a carpenter (Matt. xiii. 55), and lived at Nazareth, in
Galilee (Luke ii. 4). Being espoused to Mary, he was inclined,
upon learning that she was with child, to put her away pri
vately, not wishing to expose her to public reproach ; but being
instructed by an angel, he took her to himself, in obedience to
the command of God, went with her to Bethlehem, and after
wards, with Mary and the new-born child, fled, without timidity,
384 FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH.
to Egypt (Matt. ii. 13). At the command of the angel he re
turned thence, and again dwelt in Nazareth (Matt. ii. 23).
From this place they went every year to the feast at Jerusalem,
where it happened that Jesus, then twelve years old, remained
behind them in the temple, and was anxiously sought for by
them. More than this is not told us. At the time of the mar
riage at Cana it would seem that he was no longer living, since
there is no mention made of him. Though little is said of him,
that little is rich in profitable instruction. How worthy to be
admired and imitated is his example — his chastity, his tender
ness towards Mary, his forbearing to pronounce a judgment in
regard to her condition when he could not explain it, his quick
and unreserved obedience towards God and the commands of
authority, his love for Jesus, and his care for both the mother
and the child. On account of his sanctity God has specially
distinguished him by miracles, and the Church honors him in a
particular manner. In the Litany of the Saints he is named
among the patriarchs, and the feast of his patronage is cele
brated on the third Sunday after Easter. Venerate, therefore,
St. Joseph ; choose him for your protector in life and in death,
and make yourself worthy of his protection by following his
example.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : " The just shall flour
ish like the palm-tree ; he shall grow up like the cedar of Li-
banus, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the
house of our God. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to
sing to Thy name, O Most High." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be assisted by the
merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, that what of our
selves we are unable to obtain may be given to us by his inter
cession. Who livest and reignest, etc.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xlv. 1-6.
He was beloved of God and men : whose memory is in bene
diction. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified
him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made
prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and
gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and showed
FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH. 385
him His glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness,
and chose him out of all flesh. For He heard him, and his
voice, and brought him into a cloud. And He gave him com
mandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction.
GOSPEL. Matt. i. 18-21.
When Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was espoused to Joseph,
before they came together, she was found with child, of the
Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just
man, and not willing publicly to expose her : was minded to put
her away privately. But while he thought on these things, be
hold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying :
Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife :
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost ; and
she shall bring forth a Son : and thou shalt call His name JESUS :
for He shall save His people from their sins.
Instruction.
To encourage us to veneration for St. Joseph St. Teresa
wrote : " I do not remember to have asked St. Joseph for any
thing which he did not grant me. The great favors which God
has granted me through him, and the many dangers of soul and
body from which he has freed me, truly deserve admiration. It
seems that God has granted to other saints the grace of assisting,
in particular needs, those who invoke their intercession; but
this glorious saint assists in all needs. The Lord seems thereby
to indicate that, as He was subject to Joseph on earth, so now
He grants him whatever he asks for. The same thing has been
experienced by persons whom I have advised to recommend
themselves to him." " I would gladly advise every one," says
St. Alphonsus, ' ' to have a great devotion towards this saint,
since I have experienced what graces he can obtain from God.
For several years I have asked him, on his feast, for some par
ticular grace, and every time my petition has been granted. As
we all have to die, we should have a particular devotion towards
St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death ; for all
Catholic Christians consider him to be an intercessor for the dy
ing, and that he assists, at the hour of death, those who venerate
him; and this for three reasons : 1. Because Jesus loves him,
386 FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
not only as a friend, but as a father, on which account his inter
cession is more powerful than that of any other saint. 2. Be
cause St. Joseph obtained special power against the evil spirits
who tempt us at the hour of death. 3. The assistance which Jesus
and Mary gave to Joseph at the hour of his own death procured
for him the right to obtain a holy and easy death for his depend
ants. If in their dying hour they invoke his aid, not only will he
assist them, but he will obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and
Mary." Ought not these words of a great saint encourage you
to venerate St. Joseph every day ? Should not the hope of dy
ing one day under the protection of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
move you to devotion to the foster-father of Jesus?
Prayer to St. Joseph.
O most chaste Joseph, who, by thy purity and other exalted
virtues, wast worthy to be chosen for the spouse of Mary and
the foster-father of Jesus, I beseech thee, by the great graces
of which thou wast made partaker, that thou wouldst, by thy in
tercession, obtain for all parents grace to rear their children
piously ; for all married persons who are distressed and afflicted
through poverty and tribulations consolation and encourage
ment ; for all unmarried persons who have devoted their chastity
to God the grace of perseverance; and, finally, for all the
dying the grace to come, after a happy death, to thy foster-
child, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
jf east of tbe Hnnuncfation of tbe Blesses IDit^fn
MARCH 25.
THIS feast is so called from the announcement to the Blessed
Virgin, by the archangel Gabriel, that she was to be the
mother of the Messias. In the Introit of the Mass the Church
refers to this high dignity of Mary's: "All the rich shall en
treat thy countenance ; after her shall virgins be brought to the
King ; her neighbors shall be brought to thee in gladness and
rejoicing. My heart hath uttered a good word, I speak my
works to the King." Glory be to the Father, etc.
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 387
Prayer.
O God, Who didst please that Thy Word should take flesh,
at the message of an angel, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, grant to Thy suppliants that we, who believe her to be
truly the Mother of God, may be blessed by her intercession
with Thee. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias vii. 10-15.
In those days the Lord spoke to Achaz, saying : Ask thee
a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or
unto the height above. And Achaz said : I will not ask, and I
will not tempt the Lord. And he said : Hear ye therefore, O
house of David : Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to
men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the
Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and His name shall be called Em
manuel. He shall eat butter and honey, that He may know to
refuse the evil and to choose the good.
388 FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MART.
INSTRUCTION ON THE * ' ANGELIC SALUTATION, " OR U HAIL MARY. ' '
Why is this prayer called the ' ' Hail Mary, "or " Angelic
Salutation?"
Because it begins with the words which the archangel Ga
briel addressed to the Blessed Virgin when he announced to her
that she should be the Mother of God.
Of what does the Angelic Salutation consist?
1. Of the words of the archangel Gabriel. 2. Of the
words of St. Elizabeth. 3. Of words which have been added
thereto by the Catholic Church.
Which are the words of the archangel Gabriel?
" Hail [Mary], full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed
art thou among women."
What is the meaning of these words?
The words "Hail Mary" indicate that profound veneration
for the Blessed Virgin which was felt by the archangel Gabriel,
and which we, in imitation of his example, ought also to cherish.
The words ' ' full of grace ' ' remind us that God bestowed upon
the Blessed Virgin greater graces than upon all men and angels
together ; and that not for herself alone, but for us also ; they
therefore encourage us to pray to Mary with fervor and confi
dence, that by her powerful intercession she will obtain for us
the graces necessary for our salvation. 4 ' The Lord is with thee ; ' '
these words express the peculiar complacency with which God
has regarded her, on account of which He wrought in her
special miracles of wisdom, omnipotence, and benignity. Let
us rejoice with Mary over these prerogatives, and implore her
to intercede for us, that God may be with us also, to sustain us
by His almightiness, to govern us by His wisdom, to incite us
to all that is good by the fire of His infinite love. Finally, the
words ' c Blessed art thou among women ' ' are as much as to
say : Thou art the happiest of all women, since thou alone of
them all hast no stain of sin on thee ; thou art chosen to be
the Mother of God; thou shalt conceive Him by the Holy
Ghost, and shalt bring Him forth without losing thy virginity.
Thus it was that the angel saluted the most blessed Virgin, and
yet there are men who are ashamed thus to salute Mary, and to
give praise for the graces which God conferred upon her.
Which are the words of Elizabeth, and what do they mean?
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 389
' c And blessed is the fruit of thy womb ; ' ' the word blessed
is equivalent to praised. In saying these words, therefore, we
desire that the fruit of Mary's womb, Jesus, may be worshipped
and praised by all men.
Which are the words which the Catholic Church has added?
To the words * ' Blessed is the fruit of thy womb ' ' she has
added " Jesus," in order thereby to explain them, and to indicate
that this prayer is to be offered in the name of Jesus. There
upon follow the words, " Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen."
What do these words mean?
With the words, " Holy Mary," we apply to her who is full
of grace as our intercessor, and thereby are reminded to strive
to imitate her holiness, if we would be sure of her intercession,
and of being heard before God. We call her 4 ' Mother of God, "
because she brought forth Jesus, the Son of God. Thereby we
at the same time remind her that she is our mother also, and
pray her to care for us as a mother ; not as though we believed
she could of herself help us, but with the design that she should
offer to God her all-prevailing prayers for us ; hence we say,
u Pray for us," adding, u sinners." By these words we remind
Mary of our misery, and ourselves of our powerlessness for
good, and of our guiltiness in the sight of God, praying her to
procure for us the grace of God to do true penance, to acquire
virtues, and to gain true peace, and that "now," inasmuch as at
every moment, and throughout our whole life, we have so many
dangers to meet, so many virtues to gain; " and at the hour of
our death," that we may overcome the temptations of the last de
cisive hour, and stand complete victors before the throne of the
eternal Judge. " Amen," so may it be, is, as it were, to repeat
and make stronger the whole prayer.
GOSPEL. Luke i. 26-38.
At that time the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a
city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's
name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her :
Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou
among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying,
390 FEAST OF THE SEVEN DOLORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should
be. And the angel said to her : Fear not, Mary, for thou hast
found grace with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His
name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of
the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of David His father : and He shall reign in the house of
Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And
Mary said to the angel : How shall this be done, because I know
not man ? And the angel answering, said to her : The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High
shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And
behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in
her old age : and this is the sixth month with her that is called
barren : because no word shall be impossible with God. And
Mary said : Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me
according to thy word.
Salutation to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Hail, Mary, full of grace ! I rejoice, and give joy to thee,
that thou hast been chosen the Mother of the Most High, and
the queen of heaven and earth. With thee is the Father Who
begot, from all eternity, Him Whom thou didst bring forth as
God-man in time; with thee is the Son, Whom thou didst bear
in thy virginal womb ; with thee is the Holy Ghost, overshad
owed by Whose power thou didst become the Mother of the
Redeemer of the world. Praised, therefore, be thou, thou
blessed among women ; thou daughter of the Most High ; thou
bride of the Holy Ghost ; thou joy of heaven ; thou ornament
of the Church of God ; thou honor of Christians. Oh, pray
God for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
jfeast of tbe Seven Dolors ot tbe :!Blessefc
(FRIDAY IN PASSION WEEK.)
rriHE part which the Blessed Yirgin took in the sufferings and
J- death of her beloved Son has induced the Church to give
her the glorious title of Queen of Martyrs. The feast of the
FEAST OF THE SEVEN DOLORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 391
Seven Dolors was first instituted by the Council of Cologne, in
the year 1423, in order to make amends for what the Hussites
had done against the veneration of the Blessed Virgin, whom
they, like all heretics, had assailed with many calumnies and
insults; in particular, rejecting the image of the Mother of
Dolors with the body of her dead Son resting upon her lap.
This feast was originally called the feast of the Compassion of
the Blessed Virgin.
At the presentation of Jesus in the temple Simeon had pre
dicted that the suffering of the Son would be the suffering of
the Mother also : c ' Behold this child is set for the fall and for
the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall
be contradicted ; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce ' ' (Luke
ii. 34, 35). The ignominy, insults, and cruelties inflicted on
Him were to be so many swords piercing her heart. Remem
ber, therefore, on this day the seven dolors which the Blessed
Virgin experienced : 1. At the circumcision of her Son. 2.
At her flight into Egypt with Him. 3. On losing Him for
three days in the temple. 4. At the sight of Him carrying
the cross. 5. At His death. 6. When beholding His side
392 FEAST OF THE SEVEN DOLORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN".
pierced with a spear, and His body taken down from the cross
7. At His burial. Make an act of contrition for your sins,
which helped so much to cause the sufferings and death of Jesus,
and resolve firmly that you will no more grieve the hearts of
Jesus and Mary by sin. Ask her to assist you at your death by
her powerful intercession, that then she may show herself to
you as a mother, and obtain from her beloved Son grace for you.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : " There stood by the
cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother's sister, Mary of
Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen" (John xix.). " Woman, be
hold thy son," said Jesus, and to the disciple: "Behold thy
mother." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O Lord, in Whose passion, according to the prophecy of
Simeon, a sword of sorrow pierced the most sweet soul of Mary,
mother and virgin, grant, in Thy mercy, that we may call to
mind with veneration her transfixion and sufferings ; and by the
glorious merits and prayers of all the saints, who stood faithfully
by the cross, interceding for us, may experience the happy
effects of Thy passion. Who livest, etc.
EPISTLE. Judith xiii. 23-25.
The Lord hath blessed thee by His power, because by thee
He hath brought our enemies to naught. And Ozias, the prince
of the people of Israel, said to her, Blessed art thou, O daughter,
by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the
earth. Blessed be the Lord Who made heaven and earth, Who
hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of
our enemies. Because He hath so magnified thy name this day,
that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who
shall be mindful of the power of the Lord forever, for that thou
hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribula
tion of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence
of our God.
GOSPEL. John xix. 25-27.
At that time : There stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother,
and His Mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magda
len. When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother and the dis-
FEAST OF SS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES. 393
ciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His Mother :
Woman, behold thy son. After that, He saith to the disciple :
Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her
to his own.
jfeast of Ss. pbtllp an& James, Hpostles.
MAY 1.
, born at Bethsaida, was one of the first followers of
Our Lord. After receiving the Holy Ghost he preached
the Gospel in Scythia and Phrygia, converting great numbers
to the faith, and was finally crucified and then stoned at
Hierapolis, in Phrygia.
James, the son of Cleophas, called the Less, and on account
of his sanctity sur named the Just, and for his kinship with Christ
known as His brother, was, with his brother Judas Thaddeus,
chosen an apostle in the second year of Christ's ministry. St.
James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. One day, being re
quested to preach against Christ, he publicly proclaimed Him to
be the Messias, in Whom men were bound to believe, at which
the Jewish priests became so enraged that they threw him down
from a pinnacle of the temple, cast stones upon him, and finally
killed him outright with a fuller's rod.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : "In the time of their
tribulation they cried to Thee, O Lord, and Thou heardest them
from heaven. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just ; praise becometh
the upright." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of Thy
apostles Philip and James, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may
be instructed by the example of those in whose merits we rejoice.
Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Wis. v. 1-5.
The just shall stand with great constancy against those that
have afflicted them, and taken away their labors. These seeing
it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at
the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, saying within
394 FEAST OF SS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES.
themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit : These
are they whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable
of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their
end without honor. Behold how they are numbered among the
children of God, and their lot is among the saints.
GOSPEL. John xiv. 1-13.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples : Let not your .eart
be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My
Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have
told you, that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall
go, and prepare a place for you : I will come again, and will
take you to Myself, that where I am, you also may be. And
whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith
to Him : Lord, we know not whither Thou goest ; and how can
we know the way? Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me.
If you had known Me, you would withoat doubt have known
My Father also: and from henceforth you shall know Him, and
you have seen Him. Philip saith to Him : Lord, show us the
Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus saith to him : So long
a time have I been with you, and have you not known Me?
Philip, he that seeth Me seeth the Father also. How sayest
thou, show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in
the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to
you, I speak not of Myself. But the Father Who abideth in
Me, He doth the works. Believe you not that I am in the
Father, and the Father in Me? Otherwise believe for the very
works' sake. Amen, arnen, I say to you, he that believeth in
Me, the works that I do he also shall do, and greater than these
shall he do : because I go to the Father. And whatsoever you
shall ask the Father in My name, that will I do.
Why did Jesus say to His disciples, " Let not your heart be
troubled"?
He said this in order to console them beforehand, so that
they might not be downcast, or waver in their faith, in case the
predicted tribulations should actually come upon Him and them.
Thus it is that God never fails to comfort those who suffer
persecution for His sake.
FEAST OF THE FINDING OF THE HOLY CROSS. 395
What is meant by the words, " I am the way, the truth, and
the life"?
St. Bernard says Christ is the way, in His holy doctrine and
example, in following which we cannot go astray. He is the
truth, in the fulfilment of the prophecies, in His mysteries, in
His promises and threatenings, in His Gospel, and in His Church,
for, as God, He cannot err, neither can He lie or deceive.
Finally, He is the life, in that, through His death, He has gained
for us the life of grace and glory.
Why did Christ say to Philip, ' ' He that seeth Me seeth the
Father also"?
Because, although different from the Father in person, yet
in nature and substance He is equal to Him. Christ accordingly
adds that He is in the Father, and the Father in Him.
Prayer to St. Philip.
O St. Philip, chosen disciple of the Lord, who brought Na
thaniel to Christ, who most zealously preached thy Lord, Jesus
Christ, and out of love to Him willingly gave thyself to be
nailed to the cross, and put to death, obtain, I beseech thee, for
me, and for all men, grace with zeal to bring others to the prac
tice of good works, to have a great desire after God and His
truths, and, in hope of the eternal blissful contemplation of God,
to bear patiently the adversities and miseries of this life. Amen.
Prayer to St. James.
O St. James, who lived so temperately and strictly, who, like
thy master, prayed so earnestly and constantly for thy tormentors,
I beseech thee that thou wouldst procure us from Jesus grace,
after thy example, to live sober and penitential lives, and to
worship God in spirit and in truth. Obtain for us, therefore,
the spirit with which thou didst write thine epistle, that we may
follow thy doctrine, be diligent in good works, and, like thee,
love and pray for our enemies. Amen.
If east of tbe fffnfcfna ot tbe Ibolg Cross,
MAY 3.
is this day so called?
Because on this day the Church celebrates the finding,
396 FEAST OF THE FINDING OF THE HOLY CROSS.
by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, of the cross
on which Christ died, after it had been for a long time lost.
Where had the holy cross been up to the time that it was
thus found again?
At Jerusalem, near the holy sepulchre, hidden under a mass
of rubbish. For the Emperor Adrian endeavored not only to
desecrate the holy places of the death and burial of Jesus Christ,
but also to hide the very knowledge of them. The cave of the
holy sepulchre was filled up, and by the erection of a temple of
Venus, built over the spot, came to be quite lost sight of.
Prayer.
O God, "Who, in the miraculous finding of the saving cross,
didst revive the miracles of Thy passion, grant that, by the ran
som paid on the wood of life, we may obtain the suffrages of
life eternal. Who livest and reignest, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. ii. 5-11.
Brethren : Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus : Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God : but emptied Himself, taking the form of
a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found
as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death :
even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath
exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all
names: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And
that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is
in the glory of God the Father.
GOSPEL. John iii. 1-15.
At that time there was a man of the Pharisees, named Ni^
demus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night,
and said to Him : Rabbi, we know that Thou art come a teacher
from God : for no man can do these signs which Thou dost, un
less God be with him. Jesus answered, and said to him :
Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he can
not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith to Him : How
can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time
FEAST OF THE FINDING OF THE HOLY CROSS.
397
into his mother's womb, and be born again? Jesus answered:
Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water
and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh : and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Wonder not, that I said to thee, you must be
born again. The Spirit breathe th where He will; and thou
hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh or
whither He goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered, and said to Him : How can these things
be done? Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master
in Israel, and knowest not these things? Amen, amen, I say
to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we
have seen, and you receive not our testimony. If I have spoken
to you earthly things, and you believe not : how will you be
lieve if I shall speak to you heavenly things? And no man
hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended from heaven,
the Son of man Who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up :
that whosoever belie veth in Him may not perish, but may have
life everlasting.
398 FEAST OF THE FINDING OF THE HOL1 CROSS.
Salutation of the Church to the Holy Cross.
O glorious and venerable cross ! O precious wood ! O won
derful sign, by which sin, the devil, and hell were overcome,
and the world redeemed through the blood of Christ, thou art
exalted above all the cedars of the forest, for on thee hung the
life of the world ! On thee Christ gained the victory, and by
His dying overcame death forever. Alleluia.
O Lord Jesus Christ, we adove and bless Thee ; for through
Thy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
ON THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.
Why do we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross?
1. To testify that we are Christians and worshippers of the
Crucified. 2. To profess our faith in the Most Holy Trinity. 3.
In honor and thankful remembrance of the sufferings and death
of Christ. 4. In order to overcome the devil and his tempta
tions, inasmuch as he is by nothing more easily driven away
than by the sign of the cross.
Is it an old custom to make the sign of the cross?
The earliest fathers of the Church make mention of this
custom, and say that it came to them from the apostles ; nay,
they charge Christians to make the sign of the cross at eating
and drinking, at walking and rising, at sitting and speaking,
and, in a word, before every undertaking.
Why do the priests at divine service make the sign of the
cross over the people?
That therewith there may be imparted to Christians the
abundant blessing of grace which Christ has obtained for us by
His cross, as St. Paul says, ' ' Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with spiritual bless
ings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. i. 3). This custom is
of great antiquity in the Church. The Council of Agde, for
example, in the year 506, directed that after prayers the people
should be dismissed by the priest with a blessing.
FEAST OF ST. ALOYSIUS. 399
Jfeast of St. Hlossius.
JUNE 21.
ST. ALOYSIUS was born March 9, 1568, at Castiglione, Italy.
His pious mother took care to lay early in the heart of her
little son that foundation of the holy fear of God which is the
beginning of all wisdom and of all virtue. His father, a brave
soldier, wished to make his son a soldier also, and furnished
him with all kinds of small weapons as toys, and even when
the child was no more than seven years old took him to camp.
Aloysius had a great veneration for the Blessed Virgin, and
made a vow of perpetual chastity in honor of the most pure and
immaculate Virgin. To this vow he was faithful till death. In
the year 1581 he received at the hands of the holy Archbishop of
Milan, Charles Borromeo, his first communion. From day to
day he made more and more progress in the way of perfection.
His longing to consecrate himself entirely to God grew with his
life, and as he was asking enlightenment from his mother Mary,
and with that intention receiving holy communion on the day
of her assumption into heaven, he distinctly heard a voice which
commanded him to enter the Society of Jesus, and to make this
command at once known to his confessor. The latter examined
the matter and encouraged Aloysius in his resolution ; his
mother also bade him God-speed; but his father would not
listen to it. However, after three years' opposition his father
gave his consent. Aloysius began his novitiate in his eighteenth
year, and by his punctual obedience, and by the practice of all
virtues, soon surpassed all his fellow-novices. In the year 1587
he made his vows and received the four minor orders, the
grace of which incited him to press forward more zealously in
the way of perfection. In the year 1591, the plague appearing
at Eome, Aloysius devoted himself chiefly to the poor sick,
until, being himself seized with the epidemic, on June 21, 1591,
in the twenty-first year of his age, he died the death of the just.
ON THE FOLLOWING OF ST. ALOYSIU8.
For three hundred years St. Aloysius has received, in the
holy Catholic Church, the greatest veneration as an example of
400 NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
innocence and purity, and innumerable are the graces obtained
by those who have endeavored, with perseverance, to follow him.
But particularly does holy Church desire that the young should
take this saint for their pattern ; for experience has shown that
many who have done this have been preserved from the corrup
tion of the world, and kept their crown of virginal purity be
fore the face of God. Therefore young people of both sexes
ought, every day, to recommend themselves to this holy youth ;
like him, should cherish a childlike veneration for the most pure
Virgin Mary, blessed above all ; like him, should press deep into
their hearts a holy fear of God ; like him, should distrust them
selves, fly all occasions of sin, control their senses, especially
their eyes, receive often the holy sacraments, and be persevering
in prayer.
Prayer.
O God, the distributer of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic
youth Aloysius didst unite a wonderful innocence of life with an
equally wonderful penance, grant, through his merits and prayers,
that we, who have not followed him in innocence, may imitate
him in penance. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
ttativits of St. 3obn tbe Baptist
JUNE 24.
ST. JOHN could not have had any greater panegyrist than Jesus
Christ Himself, Who said : " There hath not risen, among
them that are born of women [in the natural manner], a greater
than John the Baptist" (Matt. xi. 11). The Lord made him
great, even from his mother's womb, by causing his birth to be
foretold by an angel, by giving him his name, and by sanctify
ing him while yet in his mother's womb through the presence
of Christ. To escape from the world and its allurements he
withdrew to the desert, and there occupied himself only with
God and with what concerned his vocation. His food was locusts
and wild honey; his clothing a garment of camel's hair, fastened
by a leathern girdle ; his bed the hard ground. Thus he lived
till his thirtieth year, in which, by the command of God, he
was to proclaim the coming of the Messias, Whom he himself
afterwards baptized and pointed out to men as the Lamb of God.
NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
401
With extraordinary zeal and earnestness he preached the neces
sity of true penance.
For having reproved Herod for living in adultery he was
thrown into prison, and finally, at the instigation of Herodias,
was beheaded.
"We celebrate the day of his birth rather than that of his
death, as is the case 011 most saints' days, because, while other
saints arrive at sanctity only through long and difficult contests,
John was already sanctified in his mother's womb.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : < < The Lord hath called
me by my name, from the womb of my mother, and hath made
my mouth like a sharp sword ; in the shadow of His hand He
hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow. It is
good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy name, O Most
High." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who, by the birth of John, hast made this day
worthy to be honored by us, grant to Thy people the grace of
402 NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
spiritual joys, and guide the minds of all the faithful in the way
of eternal salvation. Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Isaias xlix. 1-3, 5-7.
Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye peoples from afar.
The Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my
mother He hath been mindful of my name. And He hath
made my mouth like a sharp sword : in the shadow of His hand
He hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow : in
his quiver He hath hidden me. And He said to me : Thou art
my servant Israel, for in thee will I glory. And now saith the
Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant, that I
may bring back Jacob unto Him, and Israel will not be gathered
together : and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my
God is made my strength. And He said : It is as mall thing that
thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and
to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold I have given thee to be
the light of the gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation even
to the farthest part of the earth. Thus saith the Lord, the Re
deemer of Israel, His holy One, to the soul that is despised, to
the nation that is abhorred, to the servant of rulers: Kings
shall see, and princes shall rise up and adore for the Lord's sake,
because He is faithful, and for the holy One of Israel, Who hath
chosen thee.
Explanation.
This prophecy refers, it is true, to Christ, Whom God has
made the head, teacher, ruler, and salvation of all nations. The
greater part of it, however, may be applied to St. John, as is
evident from his life.
GOSPEL. Luke i. 57-68.
Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she
brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard
that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and
they congratulated with her. And it came to pass that on the
eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called
him by his father's name, Zachary. And his mother answer
ing, said : Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said
NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. 403
to her : There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him
called. And demanding a writing-table, he wrote, saying:
John is his name. And they all wondered. And immediately
his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, bless
ing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all
these things were noised abroad over all the hill-country of
Judea. And all they that had heard them laid them up in their
heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For
the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary, his father,
was filled with the Holy Ghost: and he prophesied, saying:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel : because He hath visited and
wrought the redemption of His people.
Explanation.
The neighbors and kinsfolk of Elizabeth rejoiced with her at
her happiness, and gave her joy. We too, in like manner,
should be glad when anything good happens to our neighbor,
and thank and praise God therefor.
404 FEAST OF SS. PETBK AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
Prayer.
St. John, blessed forerunner of Jesus Christ, mirror of true
penance, burning and shining light, who by thy teaching and ex
ample didst show to men the way to Christ, I beseech thee, by
thy penitential life, that thou wouldst obtain for me, from Him
Whom thou didst point out as the Lamb of God that taketh away
the sins of the world, grace that, fearing God's wrath against
the impenitent, I may at last do true penance for my sins,
mortify my sinful flesh according to thy example, serve God in
purity and sanctity, and finally, in the land of eternal happi
ness, follow forever the Lamb Who on the altar of the cross was
slain for me. Amen.
JFeast of SS, peter an& Paul, Hpostles,
JUNE 29.
"TEETER, formerly called Simon, was a son of Jonas, of Beth-
saida, in Galilee, and a brother of Andrew, by whom he
was brought to Christ, Who at once changed his name and called
him Peter. When, soon after, Jesus said to both of them on
the Sea of Tiberias, ' ' Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men," they both left their nets and followed Him. From this
time forward Jesus was constantly giving him particular proofs
of His love. Fr^m the ship of Peter He taught the thronging
multitude, and to him He promised that on him, as upon a
rock, He would build His Church, against which the gates of
hell should not prevail. Our Lord took Peter with Him at the
raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead ; at His own trans
figuration on Mount Thabor; at the beginning of His passion
in the Garden of Gethsemani. To him He promised the keys
of the kingdom of heaven ; for him He specially prayed that
his faith might not fail ; and him He commanded to strengthen
his brethren. After His resurrection He appeared particularly
to Peter, and three times commanded him to feed His flock.
But Peter had, above all the other apostles, made himself
worthy of this pre-eminence by his living faith, his humility,
his love, and his zeal for the honor of Jesus ; for he it was who,
before the other apostles, made the confession, " Thou art
Christ, the Son of the living God." He showed his humility
FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
405
when, at the miraculous draught of fishes, he said, " Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Out of love he de
sired to remain always with Christ on Mount Thabor to pre
vent Him from suffering ; and out of love he declared himself
ready with Christ to live or die ; nay, he even declared most
confidently that, though all should be scandalized in Christ, yet
he would not be. When Jesus was taken prisoner, Peter
showed himself to be most courageous by cutting off the ear of
one of his Master's enemies, and by following Him to the house
of Caiphas. Three times, indeed, did he, as no one else did,
deny his Lord out of fear ; but the look of forgiving love which
Jesus cast upon him forced from him tears of the deepest con
trition, and three times afterwards, accordingly, he made that
confession, "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee."
After he had received the Holy Ghost, full of courage, he
confessed Christ crucified, and preached Him in Pontus, Gala-
tia, Cappadocia, Ionia, and Bithynia. At Jerusalem he was
once already condemned to death, but was set free by an angel.
In the year 54 he went to Koine, whence, after a nine years'
4:06 FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
residence, he was banished, with many other Christians. Upon
returning thither again he was confined in the Mamertine
prison, and finally, on June 29, in the year A.D. 67, under the
Emperor Nero, he was crucified ; his head, by his own desire,
hung downwards, because he thought himself unworthy to die
like Christ.
Paul, before his conversion called Saul, was of the tribe of
Benjamin, a native of Tarsus, in Cilicia, and a pupil of Gamaliel.
Full of zeal for the law, he bitterly opposed the Christians. As
he was travelling to Damascus to persecute them he was, on the
way, converted by Christ. How indefatigably he thencefor
ward worked in the vineyard of the Lord, and what dangers and
persecutions he underwent, no pen can describe. It is almost
incredible with what zeal and perseverance he preached Christ,
in chains and fetters, under blows and scourges, in hunger and
thirst, and untold times at the peril of his life. And yet he
was so humble that he counted himself the least of the apostles,
and always praised God that He had thought him worthy to
suffer for His name. After he had at last fought a good fight,
and finished his course — having everywhere zealously preached
the Gospel, and still more zealously practised it — he received
the crown of justice (n. Tim. iv. 6). The Emperor Nero caused
him to be beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified.
The Introit of the Mass is in the words spoken by St. Peter
after his delivery from the prison at Jerusalem : ' ' Now I know
in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel and hath de
livered me out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expecta
tion of the people of the Jews " (Acts xii. 11). " Lord, Thou
hast proved me and known me ; Thou hast known my sitting
down and my rising up " (Ps. cxxxviii. 1, 2). Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast consecrated this day by the martyrdom of
Thy apostles SS. Peter and Paul, grant to Thy Church, in all
things, to follow their doctrines, through whom the true faith
was first proclaimed. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Acts xii. 1-11.
In those days : Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to
afflict some of the Church. And he killed James the brother of
FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
407
John with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he
proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the
Azymes. And when he had apprehended him, he cast him
into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept,
intending after the Pasch to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made with
out ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when
Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains : and the
keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel
of the Lord stood by him : and a light sinned in the room : and
he striking Peter on the side raised him up, saying : Arise
quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. And the
angel said to him : Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And
he did so. And he said to him : Cast thy garment about thee,
and follow me. And going out he followed him, and he knew
not that it was true which was done by the angel : but thought
he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second
ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which
408 FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through
one street : and immediately the angel departed from him. And
Peter coming to himself, said : Now I know in very deed that
the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the
hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the
Jews.
GOSPEL. Matt. xvi. 13-19.
At that time Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea
Philippi: and He asked His disciples, saying: Who do men
say that the Son of man is ? But they said : Some John the
Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of
the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But who do you say
that I am ? Simon Peter answered and said : Thou art Christ
the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him :
Blessed artthou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath
not revealed it to thee, but My Father "Who is in heaven. And
I say to thee : That thou art Peter ; and upon this rock I will
build My Church, and the gates of hell shall riot prevail against
it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth it shall be bound
also in heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall
be loosed also in heaven.
Why did Christ ask His disciples, ' c Who do men say that
the Son of man is? "
To give them an opportunity to confess their belief in Him
as the true Son of God, and upon that open confession to ground
a promise of the highest importance.
Why does Christ call Himself the Son of man?
In order that, His Godhead being veiled under the form of
man, He might thus test the faith of His disciples, and teach us
that He was both true God and true man.
What did Peter mean to say by those words, 4 ' Thou art
«/ «7
Christ, the Son of the living God " ?
He thereby confesses that Christ is the Son of God, begotten
from all eternitv, and therefore of the same substance with the
Father ; that by Him all things were made, and that from Him
comes our life in soul and body.
FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES. 409
"What reward did Peter receive for his confession?
Christ pronounced him blessed that God had given him such
grace, conveyed to him the highest authority in His Church,
and gave him the pre-eminence above all the apostles.
What is the meaning of the expression " to bind and to
loose" ?
According to Isaias, it signifies to open and to shut heaven,
and here consequently denotes the power, as representative of
Jesus Christ, to receive persons into the Church, and to excom
municate them from it ; to forgive sins, or to retain them ; to
impose or to remit punishments for them ; to establish laws and
prohibitions, to abolish them, to change them, and, in general,
to govern and direct in everything, as shall be necessary for the
preservation of unity and order in the Church, and for the good
of the faithful.
Was the power to bind and to loose given to Peter only?
ISTo, but to the rest of the apostles also ; the power of the
keys, however, Jesus gave only to Peter. Peter, therefore, and
his successors, possess this supreme power, while the other
apostles and their successors, the bishops, possess the authority
intrusted to them by Christ, to be exercised by them in unity
with the rock, that is, with Peter and his successors.
OF THE POPE.
What is the Pope to the Catholic ?
The representative of Jesus Christ, and the visible head,
appointed by Him, for the government of His Church.
Did Christ actually appoint such a supreme head?
Yes, and that in the person of St. Peter. He gave him the
significant name Peter — the rock, distinguished "him always
above the other apostles, and laid upon him the charge to feed
His lambs, that is, the faithful, and His sheep, that is, the
bishops themselves ; and this power Peter uniformly exercised.
Why did Christ appoint a visible head for the Church?
Because the Church is an outward, visible society, united
together not only by inward faith in Christ, but also by outward,
visible signs. Such a visible head is as necessary for the
Church as for a body, a family, a society, a state, to prevent dis-
410 FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES.
union, confusion, and the consequent destruction of the whole ;
this supreme head is the centre of the whole, the final judge,
the authoritative teacher.
Who is now this supreme head ?
The Bishop of Kome, or the Pope. It is undeniable that
Peter occupied the bishop's see at Rome, and that he died
there. Equally indisputable is it that the successor of St.
Peter entered upon possession of his rights, and, together with
the episcopal see of Rome, inherited also the office possessed
by him. From the first centuries this has ever been acknowl
edged by the faithful, who have accordingly called the Bishop
of Rome Pope — that is, the father of the faithful. And how
clearly does history show that Peter and his successors are the
rock upon which the Lord has immovably founded His Church !
What storms have not broken upon the Church ! Persecutions
from without and within, heresies and schisms without number,
and infidelity in its most hideous form, have raged against the
Church, and what has been the consequence ? Nations have
often fallen away from the Church, single bishops have proved
betrayers of their flocks, the sees of the apostles themselves
have been subject to the vicissitudes of time. And amid all
these storms Rome alone has, for over eighteen hundred years,
stood firm. She has come out of every contest victorious, has
remained the centre of faith and discipline, and has preserved
the unbroken succession of bishops from Peter. Who does not
see herein the assistance of Him Who forever fulfils that promise
of His, " Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it" ? The Pope is, therefore,
the visible supreme head of the Church, appointed by Christ for
dl time ; the invisible, all-governing head is Christ Himself.
Prayer.
O Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who hast built Thy
Church on St. Peter, as on a rock, Who hast confided to him
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and constituted him and his
successors Thy representatives upon earth, grant us Thy grace,
that in all the laws we may obey them as Thyself, that, resting
upon the rock of truth, we may be immovable in all storms,
and steadfastly persevere in the way of good works.
FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VLRG7N MARY. 411
jf east ot tbe Wsttatfon of tbe JBlessefc tittrain /iDars.
JULY 2.
rpnis day is called the Visitation of the Blessed Yirgin Mary,
-*- because on it Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, whom, as
the angel had told her, God had blessed with a son in her old
age.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: " Hail, holy
parent, who didst bring forth the King Who rules heaven and
earth forever. My heart hath uttered a good word ; I speak of
my works for the King." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, we beseech Thee, unto us Thy servants
the gift of Thy heavenly grace, that, as in the childbirth of the
Blessed Yirgin our salvation began, so from the votive solemnity
of her visitation we may obtain an increase of peace. Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
£12 FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
EPISTLE. Cant. ii. 8-14.
Behold lie cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping
over the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart ; be
hold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows,
looking through the lattices. Behold my beloved speaketh to
me : Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is
come : the voice of the turtle is heard in our land : the fig-tree
hath put forth her green figs : the vines in flower yield their
sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come:
my dove in the clifts of the rock, in the hollow places of the
wall, show me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears : for thy
voice is sweet, and thy face comely.
GOSPEL. Luke i. 39-47.
At that time : Mary rising up went into the hill-country with
haste, into a city of Juda : and she entered into the house of
Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that
when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped
in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
and she cried out with a loud voice and said : Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And
whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come
to me ? For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things
shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
And Mary said : My soul doth magnify the Lo d ; and my
spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
1. As soon as Mary heard that Elizabeth was with child
she hastened to her. The alacrity of the Blessed Virgin teaches
us that we should take part with gladness in the happiness of
our fellow-men, and quickly make ourselves ready to discharge
our duties, sacrificing for that object, if necessary, even our
own much-loved retirement, our devotions and other exercises
of piety.
2. Mary visited her cousin out of real love, not out of un
meaning ceremony. Would that her example were followed in
our visits !
FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 413
3. By the visit of the Blessed Virgin John was sanctified
in his mother's womb, and Elizabeth, enlightened by the Holy
Ghost, knew, by the miraculous movements of her child, that
Mary was the Mother of the Lord. Such effects did this visit
produce. What would Jesus effect in us if we received Him
with due preparation !
EXPLANATION OF THE CANTICLE ' * MAGNIFICAT, " OR " MY SOUL
In this hymn Mary with joy praises God, the Lord, that He
has regarded her humility, and made her to be the Mother of
His only-begotten Son, wherefore she should be called blessed
by all generations; and she declares the truths and mysteries
which the incarnation brought to light. The mercy of God,
namely, reaches from generation to generation to them that fear
Him. He scatters the thoughts of the proud, and puts down
from their seats the mighty ; but He exalts the humble. He fills
those who hunger for justice with good things, but those who
think themselves rich He sends away empty. He receives all
true Israelites, and performs in them the promises which He gave
to the fathers. This hymn is repeated by the Church every
day at Vespers, in praise of the work of redemption, begun by
the incarnation of the Son of God in Mary. Would that every
Christian, since he becomes one only by Christ being, as it were,
born in him, might share those feelings which the Blessed Virgin
and Mother has expressed in this hymn of praise, and, with the
Church, daily praise God for the mystery of the incarnation !
Aspiration.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who didst de
scend from the highest heavens to the womb of the Virgin Mary,
didst therein rest for nine months, and with her didst condescend
to visit and sanctify St. John, grant that we, by the practice of
good works, particularly of humility, may become partakers of
the fruits of Thy incarnation.
414 FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, OR OF THE SCAPULAR.
jf east of ©ur 3La&£ of /ifcount Garmel, or of tbe
Scapular.
JULY 16.
THE Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of
Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name
from the Latin word scapulas, meaning shoulders, is a dress
which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of St.
Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they
were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious
dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as
the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the
Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and
connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now al
most universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites.
The history of its origin is as follows : During the thirteenth cen
tury the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on July
16, 1251, while St. Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was
at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand
a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said, "Receive, my
dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of
my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have
obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of
salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace
and protection till the end of time. "Whosoever dies wearing
this shall be preserved from eternal flames. " It is much to be
wished that people should everywhere join this confraternity,
for the honor of Mary and for the salvation of souls, by a life
fitted to that end.
In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every
member must : 1 . Shun sin, and, according to his state of life,
live chastely. 2. Say every day, if possible, seven times, Our
Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father. 3. Strive to
serve God by venerating Mary, and imitating her virtues.
These rules, it is true, are not binding under penalty of sin,
but the breach of them deprives us of all merit ; and is not this
something to be taken into account? "He who soweth spar
ingly shall also reap sparingly " (n. Cor. ix. 6).
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : ' c Let us all rejoice in
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, OR OF THE SCAPULAR. 415
the Lord, and celebrate a festal- day in honor of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, on whose solemn feast the angels rejoice, and
give praise to the Son of God. My heart hath uttered a good
word; I speak of my works for the King." Glory be to the
Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who hast honored the Order of Carmelites with the
particular title of the most blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother,
mercifully grant that, protected by her prayers whose commem
oration we this day celebrate with a solemn office, we may de
serve to arrive at joy everlasting. Who livest, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xxiv. 23-31.
As the vine, I have brought forth a pleasant odor : and my
flowers are the fruit of honor and riches. I am the mother of
fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In
me is all grace of the way and of the truth : in me is all hope of
life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me,
and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above
honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb.
My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me,
shall yet hunger : and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He
that hearkeneth to me shall not be confounded : and they that
work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life
everlasting.
Explanation.
The Church applies this epistle to Mary, thereby encourag
ing us fervently to honor the blessed Mother of God, in whom
the Eternal Wisdom dwelt bodily, and through whom He was
given to us, that by her intercession our understanding may be
enlightened, our will strengthened, and we be inspired with
fresh zeal to practise ourselves, and to prevail on others to prac
tise also, whatever is chaste, becoming, and holy.
GOSPEL. Luke xi. 27, 28.
And it came to pass : as He spoke these things, a certain
woman from the crowd lifting up her voice said to Him :
Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave
Thee suck. But He said : Yea rather, blessed are they who
hear the word of God, and keep it.
416 FEAST OF THE HOLY PENITENT MARY MAGDALEN.
ffeast of tbe 1bolp penitent dDan> fl&agfcalen*
JULY 22.
M
•ART MAGDALEN, a sister of Lazarus and of Martha, oi
Bethany, was a notorious sinner in Jerusalem. Moved
by the preaching of Jesus, she did public penance. She went
openly into the house of the Pharisee with whom Jesus was sit
ting at table, threw herself at His feet, anointed them with
precious ointment, washed them with her tears, and wiped them
with her hair. Jesus, knowing her contrite heart, forgave her
her sins (Luke vii. 37, 38), and from that time forward she be
came the most zealous and faithful of the women who were dis
ciples of Our Lord. She followed Him, always ministered unto
Him of her substance (Luke viii. 3), and when He died was
standing under the cross.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be helped by the
intercession of blessed Mary Magdalen, at whose prayers Thou
didst raise up again to life her brother Lazarus, who had been
dead for four days. Who livest, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Cant. iii. 2-5; viii. 6, 7.
I will rise and will go about the city : in the streets and the
broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth : I sought
him and I found him not. The watchmen who keep the city
found me : Have you seen him whom my soul loveth? When
I had a little passed by them, I found him whom my soul loveth.
I held him : and I will not let him go till I bring him into my
mother's house, and into the chamber of her that bore me. I
adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the harts
of the fields, that you stir not up, nor awake my beloved till she
please. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy
arm, for love is strong as death; jealousy as hard as hell; the
lamps thereof are fire and flame. Many waters cannot quench
charity, neither can the floods drown it : if a man should give
all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as
nothing.
The soul that, following the direction of the watchmen,
FEAST OF THE HOLY PENITENT MARY MAGDALEN. 417
that is, the priests, teachers, and rulers of the Church, seeks
Jesus, He goes to meet, gives Himself up to, takes up His abode
in, with all His love, with all His treasures. The soul which
has found Christ for delight forgets all outward things, and no
longer has love or joy but for and in Christ. How should it be
otherwise? What can be wanting to him who truly possesses
Christ? This love for Him Who loved us unto death shows it
self by outward acts that are heroic. So Mary Magdalen loved
Jesus. Follow her example.
GOSPEL. Luke vii. 36-50.
At that time : One of the Pharisees desired Jesus to eat with
him. And He went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat
down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a
sinner, when she knew that He sat at meat in the Pharisee's
house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and standing be
hind, at His feet, she began to wash His feet with tears, and
wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and
anointed them with the ointment. And the Pharisee, who had
invited Him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying : This man,
418 FEAST OF THE HOLY PENITENT MARY MAGDALEN.
if He were a prophet, would know surely wlio and what manner
of woman this is that toucheth Him, that she is a sinner. And
Jesus answering, said to him : Simon, I have somewhat to say to
thee. But he said : Master, say it. A certain creditor had two
debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them
both. Which, therefore, of the two loveth him most? Simon
answering, said : I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.
And He said to him : Thou hast judged rightly. And turning
to the woman, He said unto Simon : Dost thou see this woman ?
I entered into thy house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet ;
but she with tears hath washed My feet, and with her hairs hath
wiped them. Thou gavest Me no kiss ; but she, since she came
in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou
didst not anoint ; but she with ointment hath anointed My feet.
Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because
she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth
less. And He said to her : Thy sins are forgiven thee. And
they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves :
Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And He said to the woman :
Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.
Magdalen, who had sinned openly, openly did penance. In
like manner, he who has given public scandal must seek to make
amends for it by public good example.
Magdalen confessed her sins, says St. Ambrose, not with
words, but with abundant tears of penitence. To tell her sins
to Christ, the All-knowing, was not necessary ; but what a con
fession was there in the posture of humiliation, and in the tears
that flowed from the contrite sinner. Would you obtain forgive
ness? Confess with contrition, like Magdalen.
The words, "Thy faith hath made thee safe," denote a faith
active as love. Faith and love are in truth never separated, for
he only truly believes who also loves ; and he only loves accord
ing to God's will who believes in Him. Therefore believe in
truth, love, and show your love by earnest hatred of every sin,
by flying from occasions of sin, by fighting against your passions,
by change of your life, and by humble confession, and as true as
God lives you will be saved, as was Magdalen ; the peace of God
will enter into your heart.
FEAST OF ST. JAMES THE GREATER APOSTLE. 419
Aspiration.
O most loving Jesus, give me an earnest will to forsake all
evil, and to return to Thee, my chief good, to repent of my sins
out of true love, to guard against them for the future, to shun
the occasion by which I have hitherto been enticed into sin, and
by the practice of good works to redeem the time lost. Grant
me this, O Jesus, by Thy bitter passion and death, and through
the intercession of the holy penitent Magdalen. Amen.
ffeast of St James tbe Greater, Hpostle.
JULY 25.
JAMES, by birth a Galilean, a son of Zebedee and Salome, was
brother to St. John the apostle, with whom he was called
by Jesus to follow Him. He was present at the transfigura
tion on Mount Thabor, at the raising of the daughter of
Jairus from the dead, and other like miracles, and at the bloody
sweat in the Garden. After the sending of the Holy Ghost he
preached the doctrines of Jesus in Judea, Samaria, and in Jeru
salem, where Herod caused him to be beheaded in the year 44.
His body was brought to Compostella, in Spain, where it is ven
erated by vast numbers of the faithful, who make pilgrimages to
his grave. St. James was the first of the apostles who shed his
blood for Christ.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows : ' c To me Thy friends,
O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is
exceedingly strengthened. Lord, Thou hast proved me and
known me : Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising
up." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Be Thou, O Lord, the sanctifier and guardian of Thy people,
that, defended by the protection of Thy apostle James, they may
please Thee by their conduct, and serve Thee with secure minds.
Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. iv. 9-15.
Brethren : I think that God hath set forth us apostles the last,
as it were men appointed to death : we are made a spectacle to
420 FEAST OF ST. JAMES THE GKEATKli, APOSTLE.
the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's
sake, but you are wise in Christ : we are weak, but you are strong :
you are honorable, but we without honor. Even unto this hour
we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and
have no fixed abode, and we labor working with our own hands :
we are reviled, and we bless : we are persecuted, and we suffer
it. We are blasphemed, and we entreat: we are made as the
refuse of this world, the off-scouring of all even until now. I
write not these things to confound you : but I admonish you as
my dearest children : for if you have ten thousand instructors in
Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus by the Gospel
I have begotten you.
GOSPEL. Matt. xx. 20-23.
At that time : There came to Jesus the mother of the sons of
Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of Him.
Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to Him: Say
that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and
the other on Thy left, in Thy kingdom. But Jesus answering,
said : You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice
that I shall drink? They say to Him: We can. He saith to
them : My chalice indeed you shall drink : but to sit on My right
or left hand is not Mine to give to you but to them for whom
it is prepared by My Father.
Explanation.
From this gospel we learn that if we wish to become partakers
with Christ of the kingdom of heaven we must drink with Him
of the chalice of pain and suffering.
Prayer to St. James.
O heroic apostle, who first of all didst, after the example of
Jesus, drink of the chalice of suffering, but now, in the kingdom
of His Father, livest upon the holy mountain of Sion, obtain for
me, I beseech thee, from Jesus the grace not to shrink from the
chalice of suffering and tribulation, but patiently to accept what
ever the hand of God may present to me, whether agreeable or
disagreeable, and thereby to become worthy one day to be inebri
ated with the streams of heavenly joy.
FEAST OF ST. ANN, MOTHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 421
jfeast of St. Hnn, /iDotbet of tbe Blesses
JULY 26.
A1
LL that we know of St. Ann is that she was married to St.
Joachim of the tribe of David, and lived with him in all
virtue and piety, but for a long time was childless. This she
bore with all patience, till at last the Lord heard her supplications,
and made her the mother of the most blessed Virgin. This dis
tinction on the part of God is praise enough for her. On this
account the faithful have always shown great veneration for her,
and continually invoke her intercession.
At the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: " Let us all
rejoice in the Lord, keeping festival in honor of St. Ann, on
whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and with one voice praise
the Son of God. My heart hath uttered a good word; I
speak my works to the King." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, Who wast pleased to confer upon St. Ann the grace
whereby she became the mother of her who brought forth Thine
only-begotten Son, mercifully grant that we, who keep her
festival, may, through her intercession, find help with Thee.
Through the same Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Prov. xxxi. 10-31.
"Who shall find a valiant woman ? the price of her is as of
things brought from afar off and from the uttermost coasts.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no
need of spoils. She will render him good, and not evil, all the
days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath
wrought by the counsel of her hands. She is like the mer
chant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. And she hath
risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and
victuals to her maidens. She hath considered a field, and
bought it : with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vine
yard. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath
strengthened her arm. She hath tasted, and seen that her
traffic is good : her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have
422 FEAST OF ST. ANN, MOTHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her hand to the
needy, and stretched out her hand to the poor. She shall not
fear for her house in the cold of snow : for all her domestics are
clothed with double garments. She hath made for heioelf cloth
ing of tapestry : fine linen, and purple is her covering. Her
husband is honorable in the gates, when he sitteth among the
senators of the land. She made fine linen, and sold it, and de
livered a girdle to the Chanaanite. Strength and beauty are
her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. She hath
opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her
tongue. She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and
hath not eaten her bread idle. Her children rose up, and called
her blessed : her husband, and he praised her. Many daughters
have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain : the woman that feareth
the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her
hands : and let her works praise her in the gates.
GOSPEL. Matt. xiii. 44-52.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples this parable : The
kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field.
Which a man having found, hideth and for joy thereof goeth,
and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again the
kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls.
Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way,
and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again the kingdom of
heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together
of all kind of fishes. Which, when it was filled, they drew out,
and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels,
but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the
world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked
from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of
fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye
understood all these things ? They say to Him : Yes. He said
unto them : Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of
heaven is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth
forth out of his treasure new things and old.
Explanation.
The hidden treasure is faith in the Crucified, Who remains
concealed from the wise of this world by reason of their pride ;
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 423
the hiding of the treasure denotes that faith is to be preserved
only by humility ; the selling of all that he hath teaches that,
for the sake of the faith, we must sacrifice all things, do all
things, suffer all things. The parable of the merchant fur
nishes the same lesson. By the parable of the net the Lord
teaches that the universal visible Church of Christ, the kingdom
of God upon earth, contains not only the elect, but those also
who shall be condemned — the bad as well as the good. At the
end of the world there will be a separation, and the bad shall be
cast into everlasting fire.
Aspiration to /St. Ann.
Hail, O blessed mother Ann ! Blessed art thou, who, for our
consolation, didst bear the Mother of our Eedeemer. With the
greatest veneration, therefore, and full of confidence, we ap
proach thee, beseeching thee that thou wouldst supplicate our
divine Saviour to bestow upon us the graces which we need to
follow thy ardent devotion, thy fear of God, and to render us
worthy one day to behold in heaven the blessed fruit of thy
virgin daughter's womb, Jesus, and to rejoice forever in the
contemplation of Him.
ffeast of tbe assumption of tbe JBlesse^ tflfrafn fl&ars.
AUGUST 15.
rnms feast is so called because on this day, according to a very
old and pious belief, the Blessed Virgin was, in body and
soul, taken up into heaven. This feast is of very great antiquity ;
it was fixed on the 15th of August at the request of the Emperor
Maurice, and afterwards, by Pope Leo I Y. , was extended to the
whole Church.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church invites us to universal
joy by singing, " Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating this
festival in honor of the most blessed Virgin Mary, on whose
assumption into heaven the angels rejoice and give praise to the
Son of God. My heart hath uttered a good word ; I speak my
works to the King." Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Pardon, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy servants,
that we, who are not able to please Thee by our deeds, may be
424 FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son. Who
livest, etc.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xxiv. 11-20.
In all things I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheri
tance of the Lord. Then the Creator of all things commanded,
and said to me : and He that made me rested in my tabernacle.
And He said to me : Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy in
heritance in Israel, and take root in My elect. From the begin
ning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to
come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I
have ministered before Him. And so was I established in Sion,
and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in
Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable people, and in the
portion of my God His inheritance, and my abode is in the full
assembly of saints. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and
as a cypress-tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm-
tree in Cades, and as a rose-plant in Jericho : as a fair olive-tree
in the plains, and as a plane-tree by the water in the streets,
was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aro-
matical balm : I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
GOSPEL. Luke x. 38-42.
At that time Jesus entered into a certain town : and a cer
tain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And
she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord's feet,
heard His word. But Martha was busy about much serving.
Who stood and said : Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister
hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she
help me. And the Lord answering, said to her : Martha,
Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things.
But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Why does the Church read this gospel to-day?
Because it readily admits of being applied to Mary, the
Mother of God, since she, far more worthily and lovingly than
Martha, chose the best part, and thereby obtained the most
glorious reward, which no one shall ever take from her.
What is the one thing necessary?
The glory of God and the salvation of the soul. Let a man,
therefore, fulfil the duties which are binding upon him ; but in
FEAST OF ST. JOACHIM.
425
so doing let him look only to God, avoid all uneasiness and dis
traction, all extravagance and excess, all that is unjust, and
sooner sacrifice everything than suffer injury to his soul.
ffeast of St. Soacbfm.
SUNDAY AFTER THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION.
JOACHIM, also called Heli, the happy father of Mary, came of
the royal line of David, and was from his youth brought
up in piety and the fear of God. His married life with the
pious and chaste Ann was childless until they had reached a
great age. His continual prayer and other good works were
then rewarded by God with that blessed child whose birth was
the beginning of our salvation. He reared her in the fear of
the Lord, offered her in her tenderest years to God in the temple
at Jerusalem, and soon after gave up his spirit into the hands of
his Creator. Oh, that all Christian parents might learn from
the parents of Mary to train up their children, not for the world,
but for God, from Whom they have received them, and Who
will one day require them again from their hands !
426 FEAST OF ST. JOACHIM.
Prayer.
O God, Who wast pleased that, before all Thy saints, blessed
Joachim should be the father of her who bore Thy Son, grant,
we beseech Thee, that we may ever experience his patronage
whose festival we celebrate. Through the same Jesus Christ,
etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Ecdus. xxxi. 8-11.
Blessed is the man that is found without blemish : and that
hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in
treasures. Who is he and we will praise him, for he hath done
wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby, and
made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could
have transgressed, and hath not transgressed : could do evil
things, and hath not done them : therefore are his goods es
tablished in the Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt. i. 1-16.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot
Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas
begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron.
And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And
Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon. And
Salmon begot Booz of Kahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth.
And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king.
And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the
wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam
begot Abias. And Abias begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat.
And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And
Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz
begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses
begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot
Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.
And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Sala-
thiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot
Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.
And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim
beo-ot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot
Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Jose-b
FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE. 42?
the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called
Christ.
Prayer.
O blessed and happy pair, Joachim and Ann, to whom
the Almighty gave for a daughter the immaculate Virgin, the
Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a grace which is a speaking
evidence of your purity, and of your lives being perfectly
ordered according to the will of God — oh, obtain for me grace,
that I may serve God chastely. Procure also for aD Christian
parents the help of the Almighty, that they may bring up their
children in piety, and thereby become worthy to partake of
your happiness. Amen.
Jf east ot St. Bartholomew, Hpostle.
AUGUST 24.
ARTHOLOMEW, of Cana, in Galilee, is probably that Nathaniel
W11O was brought to Christ by Philip (John i. 45).
Chosen an apostle, he journeyed to India, preached the gospel
everywhere, and converted great numbers to Christ. Returning
thence, he came, after many labors and sufferings for Christ's
sake, to Greater Armenia, where he converted a great multitude
of persons to the faith. At last he was cruelly tormented, flayed
alive, and then beheaded by Astyages, brother to the king, at
the instigation of the idolatrous priests.
Prayer.
Almighty, everlasting God, Who hast granted us a venerable
and holy joy on this day, in the festival of Thy blessed apostle
Bartholomew, grant to Thy Church, we beseech Thee, both to
love what he believed and to preach what he taught. Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xii. 27-31.
Brethren: You are the body of Christ, and members of
member. And God indeed hath set some in the Church, first
apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors, after that miracles,
then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues,
interpretations of speeches. Are all apostles ? Are all prophets ?
428 FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIK MARY.
Are all doctors? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the
grace of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all inter
pret? But be zealous for the better gifts.
GOSPEL. Luke vi. 12-19.
At that time : Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and
He passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when
day was come, He called unto Him His disciples ; and He chose
twelve of them (whom also He named apostles) : Simon whom
He surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John,
Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son
of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, and Jude the
brother of James, and Judas Iscariot who was the traitor. And
coming down with them, He stood in a plain place, and the
company of His disciples, and a very great multitude of people
from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the seacoast both of Tyre
and Sidon, who were come to hear Him, and to be healed of
their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits
were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch Him, for
virtue went out from Him, and healed all.
Prayer.
O St. Bartholomew, who out of love to Christ didst not only
part with thy goods, but didst also endure the most cruel death,
pray God for me, a vain child of this world, that for love to my
Saviour I may readily and joyfully renounce everything earthly
and temporal, crucify my flesh, and become thereby worthy to
follow thee in heaven. Amen.
ffeast of tbe BatMts of tbe Blessed IDfrgfn
SEPTEMBER 8.
rpnis feast is a commemoration of that happy and joyful day
on which the ever-blessed virgin Mother of God first saw
the light of day. The Church accordingly sings on this day,
4 ' Thy nativity, virgin Mother of God, has brought joy to the
whole world ; for from thee has come forth the Sun of justice,
Christ the Lord, Who putting away cursing bestowed blessing,
and by overcoming death obtained for us life eternal."
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: " Hail, holy
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 429
parent, who as a happy mother brought forth the King Who
rules heaven and earth from eternity to eternity. My heart
hath uttered a good word ; I speak my works to the King. ' '
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, we beseech Thee, unto us Thy servants
the gift of Thy heavenly grace, that, as in the childbirth of the
Blessed Virgin our salvation began, so from the votive solemnity
of her nativity we may obtain an increase of peace. Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Prov. viii. 22-35.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before
He made anything from the beginning. I was set up from
eternity, and of old before the earth was made. The depths
were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the
fountains of waters as yet sprung out : the mountains with their
huge bulk had not as yet been established : before the hills I was
brought forth : He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers,
nor the poles of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I
was there ; when with a certain law and compass He enclosed
the depths ; when He established the sky above, and poised the
fountains of waters ; when He compassed the sea with its bounds,
and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits ;
when He balanced the foundations of the earth, I was with Him
forming all things ; and was delighted every day, playing before
Him at all times ; playing in the world, and my delight is to be
with the children of men. Now, therefore, ye children, hear
me : Blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction
and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth
me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts
of my doors. He that shall find me shall find life, and shall
have salvation from the Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt, i.1-16.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham : Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot
Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas
begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron.
430 FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And
Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon. And
Salmon begot Booz of Kahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth.
And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king.
And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the
wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam
begot Abias. And Abias begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat
And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And
Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz
begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses
begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot
Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.
And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Sala-
thiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot
Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.
And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim
begot Eliud. And Elind begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot
Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph
the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called
Christ.
Let us honor Mary, especially by imitation of those virtues
of hers which are to us, as St. John Damascene says, an open
book of instruction ; let us rejoice in her prerogatives and glory ;
let us encourage others in the veneration of her ; let us, in our
need, have recourse to her, who, according to the name Star of
the Sea with which the Church salutes her, shines for all who
sail upon the dangerous sea of the world. For this reason St.
Bernard calls out to each one of us, " Take not your eyes from
the light of this star if you would not be overwhelmed by the
waves ; if the storms of temptation arise, if you are thrown upon
the rocks of affliction, look to the star, invoke Mary. Are you
confounded at the enormity of your sins, are you ashamed at
the defilement of your conscience, are you terrified on account
of the dreadful judgment, so that you begin to be overpowered
by sadness, or even to sink into the abyss of despair, then turn
your thoughts to Mary. In dangers, in distress, in doubt, call
on Mary. She will not be far from your mouth, or your heart;
and that you may obtain her intercession omit not to imitate
her conduct. When you follow her, you will not go astray ;
when you invoke her, you will no longer be in doubt ; when
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION" OF THE HOLY CROSS. 431
she supports you, you will not fall; when she leads you, you
will surely come to eternal life, and will find by your own expe
rience that she is justly called Maria — that is, Star of the Sea."
jf east of tbe Exaltation of tbe tfools Cross*
SEPTEMBER 14.
THIS feast is a yearly commemoration of the erection, at
Jerusalem, by Constantine the Great, and his mother, St.
Helena, of the cross on which Christ died. This took place
under the Emperor Heraclius, by whom the holy cross, which
Khosroo, King of Persia, had carried into his own country, was,
after fourteen years, recovered, brought back to Jerusalem, and
borne by the emperor himself to the hill of Calvary, whither
it had been borne by the Saviour. Upon this occasion a miracle
occurred. As Heraclius was about to carry the cross to the
proper place on his shoulders, out of veneration for it, he found
that while wearing the imperial dress he could not move it,
until, by the advice of the patriarch Zachary, he laid aside his
royal ornaments, dressed himself plainly, took off his shoes, and
in such manner made himself like the humble Saviour.
Introit of the Mass: " But it behooves us to glory in the
cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom is our salvation, life,
and resurrection."
Prayer.
O God, Who on this day givest us joy by the annual solem
nity of the exaltation of the holy cross, grant, we beseech Thee,
that we may deserve the reward of His redemption in heaven
Whose mystery we have known upon earth. Through the same
Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Phil ii. 5-11.
Brethren : Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus : Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God : but emptied Himself, taking the form of
a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found
as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death,
even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath
exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all
432 FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS.
names : that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And
that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in
the glory of God the Father.
GOSPEL. John xii. 31-36.
At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews : 'Now
is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this
world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all things to Myself. (Now this He said, signifying
what death He should die.) The multitude answered Him : We
have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth forever : and how
sayest Thou: The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this
Son of man? Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while
the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that
the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in dark
ness knoweth not whither he goeth. Whilst you have the light,
believe in the light that you may be the children of light.
INSTRUCTION ON THE DEVOTION OF THE WAY OF THE CROSS.
What is the Holy Way of the Cross?
It is a devotional exercise by which we meditate upon the
passion and death of Jesus, and particularly upon His last way
of sorrows, from the house of Pilate to Mount Calvary.
Tradition testifies that after Christ's ascension the Christians
living in Jerusalem were accustomed particularly to venerate the
holy places which had been sanctified by the passion of the
divine Kedeemer. But after Jerusalem fell into the hands of
the infidels, so that it became dangerous, and often impossible, to
pass over the ground which Our Lord had trod, the children of
St. Francis of Assisi began to erect in their churches the four
teen stations of the Way of the Cross, by meditating on which
the faithful might, in spirit, accompany the pilgrims to Jerusa
lem on the way to Calvary, dwelling in thought on what Christ
had suffered for men. Station here means a place to pause, a
resting-point for meditation. This devotion has been examined
and approved by many Popes, enriched with indulgences, and
earnestly recommended to Christians. It may be found in any
prayer-book. No exercise is more profitable to our souls than
this. What can bring before us the love of God and the abomi-
FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE. 433
nableness and friglitfulness of sin in a more vivid manner than
the sufferings of the God-man? How can we any longer in
dulge in hate when we hear Jesus pray for His enemies? How
can we give ourselves up to sensuality and lust when we see
the divine Saviour scourged, crowned with thorns, and hanging
on the cross? How can we murmur at our trials when we
think that Jesus innocent takes up the cross for us guilty ? In
truth, we should see our coldness and indifference disappear, as
ice melts in the heat, we should grow more and more zealous in
the way of virtue, if we would but rightly meditate upon the
passion of Christ.
How are visits to the Stations of the Cross to be made ?
Eightly to visit the Stations of the Cross, and to draw there
from real benefit, we should at each station consider with atten
tion, with devotion and sorrow, what Jesus has done and suffered
for us. We should not content ourselves with merely reciting
at each station the proper prayers and meditations, but should
pause, to impress upon our hearts what is there represented,
that we may be moved and quickened to wholesome resolutions.
In order to gain the indulgences we must endeavor to be in
the state of grace, and therefore at least, by way of beginning,
we must have perfect contrition for our sins.
ffeast of St. /Ifcattbew tbe Hpostle.
SEPTEMBER 21.
HVT-ATTHEW, also called Levi, a son of Alpheus, and brother of
the holy apostle James the Less, was a receiver in the
Roman custom-house on Lake Tiberias. Such officers were
hated by the Jews for their injustice, and were called publicans,
or public sinners. While he was sitting at the receipt of cus
tom he was called by Christ to be one of His disciples, and
immediately leaving his lucrative office and all that he had,
followed Him. On account of his distinguished zeal he was
afterwards received into the number of the apostles. After
the descent of the Holy Ghost he remained in Judea, preached
the Gospel, wrote the passion of Our Lord as contained in his
gospel, and lived strictly in the fear of God. At a later day
he travelled through Persia, Ethiopia, and other countries. At
434 FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE.
last he was killed at the altar, by command of King Hirtacus,
for opposing his marriage with the Princess Iphigenia, who, by
St. Matthew's direction, had vowed to God perpetua] virginity.
His holy remains were brought to Salermo in the tenth century.
Thus may great sinners become great saints by following faith
fully, like St. Matthew, the voice of God.
At the Introit of the Mass the Church sings : ' ' The mouth
of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak
judgment; the lawr of God is in his heart," etc. Glory be to
the Father, etc.
Prayer.
May we be assisted, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed
apostle Matthew, that what of ourselves we are unable to ob
tain may be given to us by his intercession. Through Our Lord,
etc.
EPISTLE. Ezech. i. 10-14.
The likeness of the face of the four living creatures: the
face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the
four : and the face of an ox on the left side of all the four : and
the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces, and
their wings were stretched upward : two wings of every one
were joined, and two covered their bodies : and every one of
them went straight forward : whither the impulse of the spirit
was to go, thither they went : and they turned not when they
went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their
appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the
appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro
in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning
going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and
returned like flashes of lightning.
GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 9-13.
At that time Jesus saw a man sitting in the custom-house,
named Matthew : and He saith to him : Follow Me. And he
rose up and followed Him. And it came to pass as He was
sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners
came, and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And the
Pharisees seeing it, said to His disciples : "Why doth your master
eat with publicans and sinners ? But Jesus hearing it, said :
FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE. 435
They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are
ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy
and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but
sinners.
Explanation.
This gospel teaches us: 1. That when God calls we should
obey at once, lest, by not giving heed to His voice, lie should
cease to call us, or withdraw from us His grace. 2. To forsake
the occasions of sin ; as St. Matthew not only left the place
where he sinned, but abandoned entirely the very house and
office which had led him into sin. 3. That we should not only
cease to sin, but, like St. Matthew, should follow Christ in
poverty, humility, meekness, patience, if we would enter the
kingdom of God.
Prayer.
O holy apostle, who hast made ready for us a glorious feast
in thy gospel, pray for me that thy gospel may be in truth
food for my soul ; pray that in it I may devoutly consider the
436 FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
life, virtues, passion and death of Jesus Christ, that I may
faithfully follow, in all things, thy words, written by inspira
tion of the Holy Ghost, and by the operation of the same Spirit
may be able to exclaim : ' ' How sweet are thy words to my
palate ! more than honey to my mouth. ' '
ffeast ot St. /llMcbael tbe HrcF3angeU
SEPTEMBER 29.
ny/riCHAEL is the prince of the heavenly armies, who first con
tended against the proud Lucifer.
The holy Church honors him as a particular defender, and
the faithful call upon him in all dangers of soul and body, but
they particularly implore his intercession at the hour of death,
in order that, after having, according to his example, coura
geously fought against Satan, they may receive the crown of
victory, and that their souls may by him be brought before the
throne of God. Let us also venerate him, and, full of confi
dence, cry out with the holy Church, " Holy archangel Mi-
FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. 437
chael, protect us in battle, that we may not perish in the
tremendous judgment. ' '
Prayer.
O God, Who with wonderful order dost direct the ministry
of angels and of men, mercifully grant that our life on earth
may be protected by those who ever minister before Thee in
heaven. Through Christ Jesus our Lord etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Apocalypse i. 1-5.
In those days God made known the things which must
shortly come to pass : and signified, sending by His angel to His
servant John, who hath given testimony to the word of God,
and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever He hatli
seen. Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this
prophecy: and keepeth those things which are written in it.
For the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which
are in Asia : Grace be unto you and peace from Him that is,
and that was, and that is to come, and from the seve:i spirits
which are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who is the
faithful witness, the first- begotten of the dead, and the prince
of the kings of the earth, Who hath loved us, and washed us
from our sins, in His own blood.
This epistle is read to-day because St. Michael so bravely
contended against the sedition of Satan, and, after gaining the
victory, drove him and his adherents from heaven.
GOSPEL. Matt, xviii. 1-10.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who
thinkest Thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? And
Jesus calling unto Him a little child, set him in the midst of
them, and said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted,
and become as little children, you shall not enter into the king'
dom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
And he that shall receive one such little child in My name re-
ceiveth Me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones
that believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone
should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned
in the depth of the sea. Wo to the world because of scandals.
438 FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
For it must needs be that scandals come : but nevertheless, wo
to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand
or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from tliee.
It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having
two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And
if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee.
It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that you de
spise not one of these little ones : for I say to you, that their
angels in heaven always see the face of My Father Who is in
heaven.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.
Great prince of heaven, St. Michael, to thy protection I
commend my soul and body, and, by the glory which thou
possessest in heaven, I beseech thee that thou wouldst ever as
sist me, particularly at the close of my life ; that thou wouldst
strengthen my faint-hearted ness, and obtain for me from God
the remission of my sins, and an entire submission to His holy
will, that my soul may depart full of comfort. Then receive it,
FEAST OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL.
439
and bring it, under the guidance of the holy angels, before the
face of God, to enjoy the contemplation of Him for all eternity.
Amen.
T
ffeast of tbe 1bol£ Guardian
OCTOBER 2.
HIS feast was instituted : 1. To thank God that to each one
of us He has given a particular guardian angel to conduct
him unharmed through the dangers of this world. 2. To in
spire us with gratitude to the angels who do us such great good,
and to incite us to efforts to render ourselves worthy of their
guardianship.
What is the office of a guardian angel?
To guard men against dangers of soul and body. The
Psalmist says : ' ' He hath given His angels charge over thee
to keep thee in all thy ways ; in their hands shall they bear thee
up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Ps. xc. 11); that
is, that thou mayest neither fall into sin nor misfortune. " Oh,
what great regard for us," hereupon exclaims St. Bernard,
440 FEAST OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL.
"what wonderful love! Who is it that has given charge?
God. To whom has He given charge? The angels, those
noble spirits, His own household. What charge has He given
them? To guard and defend us, poor men. 4 O Lord, what
is man, that Thou art mindful of him'?" St. Paul calls the
angels " ministering spirits" sent to minister to them who shall
receive the inheritance of salvation (Heb. i. 14). In innumer
able other places in the Bible they are represented as friends of
children, guides of youth, defenders of innocence, promoters of
good deeds, monitors against evil, guardians of the pious, pro
tectors against misfortune, comforters in need, deliverers in
danger, helpers in combat, companions of the souls in everlast
ing joy.
What should we do every day, but particularly this day?
We should thank God for having given us guardians so holy
and powerful, and our guardian angel himself for the help he
has rendered us; should think of and call upon him often, es
pecially in the hour of temptation ; finally, we should promise
fidelity and obedience to his admonitions. Whatever in this
regard is at any time binding upon us should especially be done
to-day.
Prayer.
O God, Who by an unspeakable providence dost vouchsafe
to send Thy angels to guard us, grant to Thy suppliants to be
ever defended by their protection, and to rejoice eternally in
their society. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Exodus xxiii. 20-23.
Thus saith the Lord : Behold I will send My angel, who
shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring
thee into the place that I have prepared. Take notice of him,
and hear his voice, and do not think him one to be contemned ;
for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and My name is
in him. But if thou wilt hear his voice, and do all that I speak,
I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that
afflict thee. And My angel shall go before thee.
Gospel, Matt, xviii. 1-10. (See Feast of St. Michael, Sept.
29, page 436.)
FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY. 441
Prayer to the Guardian Angel.
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
(100 days' indulgence each time.)
ffeast of tbe
FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER.
rpnis feast was fixed for the first Sunday in October by Pope
-L Clement XI. , in perpetual commemoration of a celebrated
double victory gained by the Christians at Lepanto, in 1571,
under Pope St. Pius V. , and at Belgrade, under Pope Clement
XI., through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who had been
invoked by saying the Holy Kosary. It is at the same time the
principal feast of the Arch-confraternity of the Holy Rosary.
In 1885 Pope Leo XIII., ordered the Eosary to be recited
every day during the month of October in every parish church
and cathedral throughout the world, and those of the faithful
who cannot be present at this recital he exhorted to say it with
their families or in private.
The Holy Rosary is a form of prayer in which there is first
said the Apostles' Creed, and then fifteen decades, each one of
which consists of ten Hail Marys. Each decade has one Our
Father to be said before it, and is followed by a meditation upon
some one mystery of our redemption. It is called the Rosary,
or Wreath of Roses, because the joyful, the sorrowful, and the
glorious mysteries, aptly symbolized by the leaves, the thorns,
the flower, of which the rose consists — with the prayers and
praises that are blended together — compose, as it were, a wreath
or crown. It is also called the Psalter, because it contains a
hundred and fifty Hail Marys, as the Psalter of David contains
a hundred and fifty psalms, and because it is used in place of
the singing of psalms, as practised in former times.
There are three parts in the Rosary — the joyful, the sorrow
ful, the glorious. The joyful part consists of the five first
decades, to which are attached five mysteries of the incarnation
of Jesus Christ, through which, full of joy, we speak to Mary of
442 FEAST OF THE HOLY KOSARY.
Him : 1. Whom she conceived while a virgin. 2. Whom she
bore to Elizabeth. 3. Whom she brought forth while a virgin.
4. Whom she offered to God in the temple. 5. Whom she found
iii the temple. (This is said particularly in Advent.) The
sorrowful part, in like manner, contains five decades, in con
nection with which there are presented for our meditation five
mysteries of the passion and death of Jesus : 1 . Who for us
sweat blood. 2. Who for us was scourged. 3, Who for us
was crowned with thorns. 4. Who for us bore the heavy cross.
5. Who for us was crucified. (This is said particularly in Lent.)
The glorious part, consisting of the last five decades, reminds
us of the glory of Christ and of the Blessed Virgin by five
mysteries in which we commemorate Him: 1. Who rose from
the dead. 2. Who ascended into heaven. 3. Who sent to us
the Holy Ghost. 4. Who received thee, O Virgin, into heaven.
5. Who crowned thee, O Virgin, in heaven. (This part is said
particularly at Eastertide.)
How wras this prayer introduced into the Church?
St. Dominic had for many years preached against the errors
of the Albigenses and other heretics, with such zeal and profound
ability that they were often convinced. But nevertheless the
results wero unimportant ; but few returned to the bosom of the
Catholic Church. In this discouraging state of things St. Dom
inic redoubled his prayers and works of penance, and in particu
lar besought Mary for support and assistance. One day Mary
appeared to him and taught him the Rosary. He zealously
labored to introduce everywhere this manner of prayer, and from
that time preached with such success that in a short period more
than one hundred thousand heretics and sinners were converted.
The divine origin of the Rosary is testified to by the bull of
Gregory XIII. of the year 1577.
1,3 the Rosary a profitable method of prayer?
Yes ; for by bringing before the eyes of the spirit the funda
mental mysteries of Christianity it supplies us with the strongest
motives to love God, to hate sin, to subdue the passions, to con
temn the world and its vanity, and to strive after Christian per
fection, in order that we may gain those happy mansions which
Jesus prepares for us. The Rosary, besides, brings before us
living examples — Jesus and Mary — whom we must follow, and
FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY. 443
encourages us to good works by pointing to the all-powerful
grace procured for us by Jesus, and the all-prevailing intercession
of the gracious Mother of God. Let us not be ashamed to carry
the beads with us, for otherwise we might be ashamed of being
Catholics ; let us say the Rosary often — every evening as was
the custom with Catholics in former times, and we shall find that,
as in St. Dominic's day it was a wholesome check to error, so
too in our times it will be, if said aright, a powerful weapon
against heresy and unbelief, and will increase faith, piety, and
virtue.
How should we say the Rosary?
1. Properly ; that is, as has been above described, and slowly,
with a distinct pronunciation of the prayers and mysteries. 2.
Devoutly, not only with the lips, but also with the heart.
More particularly we ought to meditate upon the mysteries that
come before us : thus, at the joyful mysteries we should think
of the infinite love of God to men and on His humiliation for us,
thanking Him, and promising our love to Him in return ; at the
sorrowful mysteries we should have compassion on the Saviour
444 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSIST.
suffering for us, should from the heart detest the sins which
were the cause of His sufferings, and make the most earnest
resolutions for the future ; at the glorious mysteries we should
remember the glory which awaits us also if we follow Jesus
and Mary.
Prayer.
O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and
resurrection, procured for us the rewards of eternal salvation,
grant, we beseech Thee, that, commemorating these mysteries in
the most holy Kosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imi
tate what they contain, and possess what they promise. Through
the same Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
Epistle, Prov. viii. 22-35. (See Feast of the Immaculate
Conception, page 356.) Gospel, Luke i. 26-38. (See Feast of
the Annunciation, page 389.)
ffeast of St. ffrancts of Hssfsf,
OCTOBER 4.
ST. FRANCIS was born at Assisi, in Italy, in the year 1182.
His father, a rich merchant, intended him for trade, and
Francis applied himself with aptness to this employment, in which,
though fond of show, he exhibited, at an early day, a particu
lar love for the poor. Agreeable and amiable, affable and kind
to all, he was beloved by all around him, and the world sought
to draw him to its side. But, enlightened from above, and by
heavenly apparitions rendered attentive to the call he was about
to receive, he followed the leadings of grace which drew him on
to imitate Christ in poverty and humility. Hearing one day at
Mass the words of the Gospel : ' ' Do not possess gold, nor silver,
nor money in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, nor two
coats, nor shoes, nor a staff " (Matt. x. 9, 10), he began to reg
ulate the whole manner of his life according to this precept of
the Gospel, and at once began to preach penance with such evan
gelical poverty, and with such power, that all who heard him
were moved to tears. Disinherited by his father, who was
great\y displeased at his poverty and open-handedness towards
the poor, he threw himself altogether upon the providence of his
Father in heaven, dividing with the poor the alms he thus re-
FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSIST. 445
ceived. The extraordinary manner of his life soon brought
around him disciples, and as the number of them increased daily,
he wrote for them a rule, and then set out for Home, to procure
from the Pope a confirmation of it. He came back, rejoicing
in the Lord that everything at Rome had gone according to his
wish, and established himself about a mile from his native city,
at a small church belonging to the Benedictines, which he called
Portiuncula (little portion). Here he led a life of the severest
penance ; here he prayed day and night, and here he laid the
foundation of that Order which has filled the world with the
splendor of its virtues. Here in this church, dedicated to the
virgin Mother of Jesus and to the holy angels, he received from
Christ Himself the celebrated indulgence known throughout the
whole Christian world as the Portiuncula Indulgence ; for while
the saint was praying there with glowing devotion, on the day
of the dedication of the church, in the year 1221, the Lord ap
peared to him and said : ' ' Francis, ask whatever thou wilt for
the salvation of the nations." He answered: "I desire the
remission of guilt and punishment, a plenary indulgence for all
who shall visit this church with contrite hearts and sincerely
confess their sins. ' ' The Lord replied : ' ' Go then to My
representative, the Pope, and ask the indulgence in My name."
Forthwith he went to Pope Honorius III., who first, by word
of mouth, and afterwards by a proper bull, confirmed to him
the indulgence. The same indulgence was, at a later day, ex
tended to all churches of the Franciscans, and by Pope Pius VII.
to all parish churches (at least to all in Bavaria), and may be
gained on the first Sunday in August of every year.
Burning with desire for the salvation of the people, St.
Francis with his brethren, whom he sent out two by two to
preach penance and the peace of God, labored to establish every
where the kingdom of heaven. His love for sinners, and his
ardent zeal for the salvation of souls, impelled him to visit re
mote parts of the world to preach the Gospel to unbelievers.
For this he was rewarded by God with miraculous graces,
among which there is particularly to be mentioned that which
was granted him upon Mount Alverno. While he was there
engaged, separated from the world, in fasting and praying for
forty days, as he was accustomed to do often, the Saviour ap
peared to him in the form of a seraph on the cross, and im-
446 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSIST.
printed the five wounds of His own body on the body of St.
Francis. On account of this, and for his ardent love for Jesus
crucified, St. Francis received the surname of Seraph.
After this event the saint lived two years in manifold bodily
distress and sickness, without murmur or complaint, with per
fect resignation to the will of God. Some time before his death
he caused his will to be written, in which he left to his brethren
poverty as an inheritance in which they should find great treas
ure for heaven. As the hour of his dissolution drew nigh he
had the passion of Christ read to him; he then said the one
hundred and forty-first psalm, and at the words, ' ' Bring my soul
oat of prison that I may praise Thy name," he expired happy
in the Lord, October 4, 1226, in the forty-fifth year of his age.
St. Francis founded three Orders : the first and proper Order
of Franciscans, or the Order of Friars Minor ; then the Order of
Franciscan nuns, or Clares, so called from St. Clare, their first
superior ; and lastly, that called the Third Order, for people in
the world, of both sexes, who aim at perfection, but do not desire
to make the vows of the cloister. This last Order, which has
been approved by many Popes, particularly by Gregory IX.,
Innocent IV., and Nicholas IV., has spread throughout the
whole world, and is becoming in our day more and more flour
ishing.
Prayer.
O God, Who by the merits of blessed Francis dost increase
Thy Church by a new progeny, grant us by imitating him to
despise earthly things, and ever to rejoice in the participation of
heavenly gifts. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Gal. vi. 14-18.
Brethren : God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross
of Our Lord Jesus Christ : by Whom the world is crucified to
me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circum
cision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creat
ure. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and
mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no
man be troublesome to me : for I bear the marks of the Lord
Jesus in my body. The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be
with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
FEAST OP THE HOLY APOSTLES SIMON AND JUDH. 447
GOSPEL. Matt. xi. 25-30.
At that time Jesus answered and said : I confess to Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to
little ones. Yea, Father : for so hath it seemed good in Thy
sight. All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no
one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one
know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please
the Son to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you that labor, and
are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon
you, arid learn of Me, because I am meek, and humble of heart :
and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet and
My burden light.
ff east of tbe 1fooi£ Hpostles Simon an& Jufce,
OCTOBER 28.
ST. SIMON and St. Jude were probably brothers ; the former
received the surname Canaanite, to distinguish him from
Simon Peter, either because he was a native of Cana, or because
of his zeal for Christ (Luke vL 15 ; Acts i. 13). Judas was sur-
named Thaddeus, or Lebbeus, to distinguish him from Judas
Iscariot. Both were chosen apostles by Christ, and were constant
witnesses of His life and deeds. It is related of them in the
Marty rology that the light of faith was communicated to Egypt
and other countries of Africa by Simon, and to Palestine, Syria,
Mesopotamia, and Greater Armenia by Thaddeus. Meeting in
Persia, and propagating the Christian faith there by their
preaching and miracles, they both gained the crown of martyr
dom. There is extant an epistle of St. Jude which the Church
has incorporated into the Holy Scriptures. From these two
apostles learn to have zeal for the glory of God, for your own
salvation and for that of your neighbor.
Prayer.
O God, Who, by means of Thy blessed apostles Simon and
Jude, hast granted us to come to the knowledge of Thy name,
grant that we may celebrate their eternal glory by making
progress in virtue and improve by this celebration. Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
448 FEAST OF THE HOLY APOSTLES SIMON AND JUDE.
EPISTLE. Ephes. iv. 7-13.
Brethren: To every one of us is given grace according to
the measure of the giving of Christ. Wherefore He saith:
Ascending on high He led captivity captive ; He gave gifts to
men. Now that He ascended, what is it, but because He also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that de
scended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that
He might fill all things. And He gave some apostles, and some
prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors
and doctors : for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: until we all
meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the
fulness of Christ.
GOSPEL. John xv. 17-25.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: These things I
command you, that you love one another. If the world hate
you, know ye that it hath hated Me before you. If you had
been of the world, the world would love its own: but because
you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember My word
that I said to you : The servant is not greater than his master.
If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you: if
they have kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all
these things they will do to you for My name's sake : because
they know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and
spoken to them, they would not have sin : but now they have no
excuse for their sin. He that hateth Me, hateth My Father
also. If I had not done among them the works that no other
man hath done, they would not have sin : but now they have
both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But that the
word may be fulfilled which is written in their law : They hated
Me without cause.
Explanation.
From the fact that Christ and His disciples were hated and
persecuted by the world the greatest consolation and encour
agement may be derived by those who are obliged to suffer
mockery, contempt, and persecution because they are not of
the world ; that is, because they do not follow its foolish princi-
FEAST OF ALL SAIKTS. 449
pies and sinful customs. But they who, to escape the derision
and hatred of the world, side with it, rather than with Christ,
may learn to be ashamed of their cowardice and baseness. For
as it is an honor to the servant to be treated like his master, so
it is a great disgrace to him to be treated better than his master ;
if, then, the master is pleased to submit to the hatred and perse
cution of the world, why do his servants refuse to do so?
When Christ says that the Jews could not excuse themselves
on the ground that they did not know Him, but had hated
and persecuted Him when it was easy for them to have known
Him by His works, He teaches us that ignorance is not in every
case an excuse for sin. Those Christians, therefore, are in the
highest degree culpable who, like the Jews, might easily learn
what they ought to believe and do, but who fail to do so either
through maliciousness or neglect, and accordingly remain in
ignorance by their own fault. Acting in this kind of ignorance,
they become guilty of sin, and will be justly condemned forever.
It is otherwise with men who, without any fault of theirs, hear
nothing of Christ or of the true faith, on account of which they
are not punishable, but who will be condemned for such sins as
they commit against that natural law which is inscribed on the
heart of every man.
jpeast of all Safnts.
NOVEMBER 1.
^TTTHY has the Church appointed this feast?
* * 1. To honor God in His saints, in whom He has shown
Himself so wonderful, and to thank Him, as the author of all sanc
tity, for the benefits He has bestowed upon them. 2. To put
us in lively remembrance of the communion of saints ; that is,
of all true children of the Church, whether they belong to the
Church militant on earth, to the Church suffering in purgatory,
or to the Church triumphant in heaven ; but more particularly
to cause us to consider, with earnestness, the communion of the
saints in heaven with us, who are yet combating on earth. 3.
To encourage us to strive for the like sanctity with them, and
to teach us that it is by no means impossible ; for if thousands
of men could become saints, why should not we, who can do all
things through Him Who strengthens us, and has sent the Holy
450 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.
Ghost for our sanctification? 4. To pay honor to those saints to
whom no particular day in the year is dedicated. 5. That, in
consideration of so many intercessors, God may grant us perfect
reconciliation, may give us a share in their merits, and may
grant us the grace of one day sharing in their joy in heaven.
By whom was this feast instituted?
By Pope Boniface IV., who, in the year 610, appropriated
the Pantheon (that is, the temple of all gods) to the divine ser
vice of Christians, dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin and all
saints, and commanded this feast in honor of all saints to be
celebrated at Rome every year. Gregory IV., in the year 840,
extended this feast to the whole Church, and transferred it to
the 1st of November.
Prayer.
O Almighty God, Who hast granted us to venerate in one
solemnity the merits of all Thy saints, we beseech Thee that, as
our intercessors are multiplied, Thou wouldst bestow upon us
the desired abundance of mercy. Through Christ our Lord,
etc. Amen.
EPISTLE. Apoc. vii. 2-12.
In those days: Behold I John saw another angel ascending
from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God :
and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it
was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying : Hurt not the
earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our
God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that
were signed, an hundred forty-four thousand were signed, of
every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda,
were twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Ruben, twelve
thousand signed. Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand signed.
Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of
Nephthali, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Manasses,
twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thou
sand signed. Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand signed. Of
the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of
Zabulon, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve
tnousanJ signed. Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand
signed. Afte** this, I saw a great multitude, which no man
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS. 451
could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and
tongues : standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands : and they
cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God, Who
sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the angels
stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the four
living creatures : and they fell down before the throne upon
their faces, and adored God, saying : Amen. Benediction, and
glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honor, and power, and
strength to our God forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL. Matt. v. 1-12.
At that time : Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a
mountain, and when He was set down, His disciples came unto
Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are the meek : for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice : for they
shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart : for they shall
see God. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be
called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer perse
cution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you,
and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for My sake;
be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.
This gospel is read to-day because it is by practising what
it contains that the saints have gained the eternal kingdom.
Explanation of the Eight Beatitudes.
I. " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven." The poor in spirit are: 1. Those who, like the
apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and for Christ's
sake become poor. 2. Those who, happening to lose their
property by misfortune or injustice, suffer the loss patiently,
in resignation to the will of God. 3. Those who, like Jesus
(Matt. viii. 20), are content with their poor and humble posi
tion, seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer
452 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.
want than enrich themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft.
4. The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches
and greatness of the world (Ps. Ixi. 11 ; i. Cor. vii. 30), but
who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery of the
needy and oppressed. 5. Finally, the truly humble, who, con
vinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think
lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who
are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore,
in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their
inheritance, the kingdom of heaven ; here the kingdom of grace
— there the kingdom of glory.
II. " Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land."
That man is rneek who does not murmur against God for send
ing afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do him
injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and
revenge, nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his
neighbor with good. Such a one is greater than he who takes
by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32) ; he possesses an unfail
ing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness ; by his meekness
prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a
ruler upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain
heaven, the land of the living, there to enjoy eternal peace.
III. ' ' Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be com
forted." By them that mourn we are not to understand such
as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of
worldly goods, or the like ; but those who are grieved that God
should be in so many ways offended by themselves and by
others — that His Church should be so heavily oppressed, and
thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with the
'precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for
is sin, and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears
that are profitable, for they shall be recompensed with everlast
ing joy.
IV. " Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice,
for they shall have their fill." Hunger and thirst denote the
most ardent longing after those virtues which constitute Chris
tian perfection; such as humility, meekness, the love of God
and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these vir
tues as the hungry man does for food and drink, and prays to
God for them with perseverance and earnestness, shall have his
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS. 453
fill ; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and one day shall
be satisfied with eternal happiness.
Y. " Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
The merciful here spoken of are: 1. Those who willingly for
give the injuries done to them. 2. Those who have compas
sion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability,
sustain them by alms. These shall obtain mercy ; that is, God
will forgive them their sins and endow them abundantly with
the goods of this world and of the world to come. Thus God
deals with us as we deal with others (Matt. vii. 2).
VI. ' ' Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see
God. ' ' The clean of heart are those who preserve with care the
innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism, or seek
to regain it, when lost, by penance ; those who keep their hearts
and consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly
from all unchaste thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who
endeavor in all things to have a pure intention directed to God
alone. They shall see God, — that is, they shall know Him even
here upon earth, — for as the eye that is to see must be clean,
454 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.
so only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But
further, our knowledge is like our hearts ; the purer the heart
the clearer and greater is the knowledge of God. But in the
world above they shall see, know, and possess Him as He is.
"What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean.
VII. " Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called
the children of God." By peace-makers we are to understand
those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet con
science, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or
to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of
God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace (Eoin.
xv. 33), and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world
with Him (Korn. v. 10), and to bring down upon earth that peace
which the world itself could not give (Luke ii. 14; John xiv. 27).
VIII. ' ' Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice'
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Hereby all those
are declared blessed who, on account of the true faith, of virtue,
of the fear of God, of purity, are persecuted, calumniated, and
even put to death, and who bear all this with Christian patience
and constancy, nay, with joy. Thus have the saints done, and
thereby they have gained the heavenly crown. Do we desire
to be crowned with them, we must also suffer with them. And
in truth, if we would apply ourselves zealously to virtue, occa
sions will not be wanting to us, for 'c all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution " (n, Tim. iii. 12).
Prayer.
How lovely, O God, are Thy tabernacles ! My soul longeth
and fainteth for Thy courts, O living God, Who art the crown
and reward of the saints, and repay est their sufferings and sor
rows in this world with eternal joy. How blessed are all they
who, in this life, have served Thee faithfully ! They behold
Thee and the Lamb of God face to face ; they bear Thy name
on their foreheads, and reign with Thee forever. We therefore
beseech Thee, O God, through their intercession, to grant us
Thy grace to serve Thee after their example, in sanctity and jus
tice ; to follow them in poverty, humility, meekness, repentance,
in ardent longing for all virtues, in peace-making and patience,
and one day, like them, to share in the joys of heaven. Amen.
(See the instruction on the Veneration of the Saints at the beginning of this
part, page 350. )
ALL SOULS' DAT. 455
Bil Souls'
NOVEMBER 2.
LL SOULS' DAY is the annual commemoration of all those
souls who departed this life in the grace and favor of God
but who are still detained in purgatory. Purgatory is that third
place in the other world in which the souls of the departed suffer
the temporal punishment of those sins for which in life they
have not sufficiently atoned, and in which they are purified
until they are worthy to appear in the presence of God.
Is there a purgatory?
Yes; it is a doctrine of our faith. 1. Even under the Old
Law the Jews held to this belief, and accordingly Judas Macha-
beus sent twelve thousand silver drachmas to Jerusalem to procure
the offering of sacrifices for the dead. 2. Under the New Law
Jesus Christ seems to point to such a place (Matt. v. 26, xii. 32).
The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians : ' ' The fire shall
try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work
abide, which he hath built thereupon [upon Christ], he shall re
ceive a reward; if any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss [by
the fire of purgatory], but he himself shall be saved, yet so as
by fire " (i. Cor. iii. 13-15). A fire from which a man may be
saved cannot be the fire of hell ; for from hell there is no re
demption. The words of St. Paul, therefore, can only be un
derstood of purgatory.
What souls are they that go to purgatory?
The souls of all those who, though dying in the grace of God,
have yet something to atone for. Those persons dying in the
grace of God are still friends of God, and certainly God does
not cast those who are His friends into hell. It is, therefore, as
suitable to the idea of God's mercy as it is consonant to reason
that such souls should be first purified in purgatory.
How can we assist the souls suffering in purgatory ?
1. By our prayers. The Holy Scripture says: "It is a
holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they
may be loosed from sins" (n. Mach. xii. 46). The Catholic
Church has therefore always taught that the prayer of the faithful
for the departed is holy and wholesome. 2. By the holy sacrifice
456 ALL SOULS' DAT.
of the Mass, the fruits of which are most beneficial to the souis
in purgatory. For this reason holy Church has always, from
the time of the apostles, remembered the dead in the holy
Mass. 3. By gaining indulgences, and other good works, by
which we supplicate God to show mercy to the souls of the suf
fering, to accept what is performed by us in satisfaction for the
punishment to be endured by them, and to bring them into the
kingdom of everlasting peace and light (Ecclus. vii. 37).
When and how was this yearly commemoration of the de
parted introduced?
The time of the introduction of this commemoration cannot
be determined ; for as early as the time of Tertullian he men
tions that the Christians of his day held a yearly commemora
tion of the dead. Towards the end of the tenth century St.
Odo, abbot of the Benedictines, at Cluny, directed this feast
to be celebrated yearly, on the 2d of November, in all the con
vents of his Order, which usage was afterwards enjoined upon
the whole Christian world by Pope John XYI. The feast of
this day was probably established in order that, after having one
day before rejoiced over the glory of the saints in heaven, we
should this day remember in love those who are sighing in pur
gatory for deliverance.
Prayer.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant
to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their
sins, that, by our pious supplications, they may obtain the pardon
which they have always desired. Who livest and reignest, etc.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xv. 51-57.
Brethren : Behold I tell you a mystery : we shall all indeed
rise again, but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet : for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible : and we
shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorrup-
tion: and this mortal must put on immortality. And when
this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the
saying that is written : Death is swallowed up in victory. O
death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
Now the sting of death is sin : and the strength of sin is the
FEAST OF ST. MARTIN, BISHOP. 457
law. But thanks be to God, Who hath given us the victory
through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL. John v. 25-29.
At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews : Amen,
amen, I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God : and they that
hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself : so He
hath given to the Son also to have life in Himself: and He
hath given Him power to do judgment, because He is the Son
of man. Wonder not at this, for the hour cometh wherein all
that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God :
and they that have done good things shall come forth unto the
resurrection of life : but they that have done evil, unto the res
urrection of judgment.
3f east of st flDartfn, Bfsbop.
NOVEMBER 11.
OT. MARTIN was born in the year 316 in Pannonia, or Hun
gary, of pagan parents, but he received secret instruction
in the Christian religion, and in his tenth year was received into
the number of the catechumens, that is, of those who are pre
paring themselves to receive holy Baptism. At the age of fifteen
he became a soldier, being, as is probable, forced to do so by
his father, to whom the religion of the boy had become known.
Out of love of God he not only kept himself aloof from the
excesses so common in this state of life, but he took advantage
of it to practise love for man, by dividing his pay among the
poor. Being one day solicited for alms by a beggar, and having
nothing but his arms and his cloak, he gave him half his cloak.
The following night Christ appeared to him, wearing that half
of the cloak, and said to him: " Martin, who is yet a catechu
men, has clothed Me with this garment." Moved by this com
forting apparition, he received holy Baptism, gave up the life of
a soldier, and betook himself to St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, in
France. As he was careful for his own salvation, so also was
he careful of the salvation of others, particularly of his parents
and relatives, for the sake of whose conversion he undertook a
journey to his native land. On his return he built, not far from
458
FEAST OF ST. MARTIN, BISHOP.
Poitiers, the first convent in France, into which he received
twenty-four monks, with whom he led a strict and virtuous life.
His great faith made him like the apostles in regard to miracles,
and the fame thereof spread abroad to that degree that, in spite
of his refusals, he was chosen Bishop of Tours. This high dig
nity made no change in his manner of living ; rather it increased
his humility, his patience under the greatest persecutions, his
zeal for the glory of God, his love for his neighbor, and par
ticularly for his enemies. After he had in such manner ruled
over his diocese for twenty-six years, being then over eighty
years old, the strength of life left him. He thereupon collected
his disciples about him, and said: ''Children, I am dying."
They wept and mourned. Moved by their tears, he in his
prayers professed himself willing to labor longer if it were God's
will. But he had labored for heaven enough, and God desired
to place upon him the long-merited crown. With his eyes raised
to heaven, he prayed incessantly, allowing himself no relief.
At his last moments the enemy sought to confound him by a
horrible apparition, but, full of confidence in God, the saint
cried out: "What do you seek, cruel monster? In me you
will find nothing that is yours;" and soon after his spirit
gently sank to rest. Would that we might learn from this saint
truly to love God, and to care not only for our own salvation,
but for the welfare of our fellow-men in body and soul ! Then
we, too, might have nothing to fear in death.
Prayer.
O God, Who seest that we cannot subsist by any strength of
our own, mercifully grant that by the intercession of blessed
Martin, Thy confessor and bishop, we may be protected against
all adversity. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc,
EPISTLE. Ecdm. xliv., xlv.
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God and was
found just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
There was not found the like to him who kept the law of the
Most High. Therefore by an oath the Lord gave him glory in
his posterity. He gave him the blessing of all nations, and con
firmed His covenant upon his head. He acknowledged him in
his blessings, He preserved for him His mercy : and he found
FEAST OF ST. MARTIN, BISHOP. 459
grace before the eyes of the Lord. He glorified him in the
sight of kings, and gave him a crown of glory. He made an
everlasting covenant with him, and gave him a great priesthood,
and made him blessed in glory. To execute the office of the
priesthood, and to have praise in His name, and to offer Him due
incense for an odor of sweetness.
GOSPEL. Luke xi. 33-36.
At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews : No
man lighteth a candle, and putteth it in a hidden place, nor
under a bushel : but upon a candlestick, that they that come in
may see the light. The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy
eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome : but if it be
evil, thy body also will be darksome. Take heed therefore that
the light which is in thee be not darkness. If then thy whole
body be lightsome, having no part of darkness, the whole shall
be lightsome, and as a bright lamp shall enlighten thee.
What does this gospel teach us?
1 . The same that it once taught the Jews : thus, a, Jesus
is always the light of the world, and He has not left Himself with
out witness that He is so. This light is ever shining upon the
world in His doctrines, His life, His acts, in His Church and in
the mysteries of grace laid up therein, in the growth and preser
vation of that Church, and in the miracles which to this hour
continue to be wrought within it. Hence, J, if we do not
know Him, if we do not obey and reverence His Church, it is
but blindness and obduracy on our part ; there is wanting to us
a pure, sincere mind, that loves only the truth. This gospel
accordingly admonishes us : 2. That we should acquire such a
mind; for, says Jesus, as a sound, clear eye keeps the whole
body always in the right direction, and guides it in all its move
ments, while an eye that is awry, or otherwise defective, causes
the body to fall, in like manner a heart that is pure and always
turned towards God gives the right direction to our thoughts,
wishes, and actions, and causes us to see the light of truth,
whereas a heart fixed upon the various goods of the world, but
blinded to God, fills our thoughts, wishes, and actions with cor
ruption and sin. How great in that case must be the darkness,
the depravity, the misery ! 3. This gospel contains the emblem
of that which, a, all superiors, masters, heads of families,
460 FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
parents — and particularly priests — should be, namely, lights, like
Jesus Himself. For this they are* set upon the candlestick.
They are, accordingly, to give light by their teaching and life,
by their avoidance of scandals ; 5, of that which every Christian
should be — a light, by his faith, his good works. Finally, 0,
of the temper with which the faithful and all inferiors should
meet those who are set over them, with believing and trusting
minds.
Prayer to St. Martin,
O St. Martin, precious heart of the priesthood, loving father
of the poor, bright example of the religious, who, out of zeal
for the glory of God, couldst neither be overcome by labor nor
by death itself, at whose departure hence the angels therefore
rejoiced, I implore thee, through thy powerful intercession, to
obtain for me a heart full of compassion for the needy, for the
apostolic pastors of the Church, true zeal, and for all, on the
bed of death, the grace by which, after this life of misery, we
may together enter into that joy of the Lord which thou, as a
good and faithful servant, already possessest. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, etc.
jfeast of tbe presentation of tbe Blessed IDfrsim
NOVEMBER 21.
THE Blessed Virgin was presented in the temple at Jerusalem
by her pious parents, Joachim and Ann, there to be edu
cated in the service and the law of the Lord in order that she
might be guarded against the defilements of the world. From
this we learn :
1 . Joachim and Ann offered to the Lord their only and most
beloved child, and gave her up entirely to His service. Great
as the sacrifice was, they yet made it. The preservation of the
innocence of their daughter was to them above all else. Pa
rents, God requires of you that you should not merely offer
your children to Him in the temple, but that you should take
care to keep them pure and holy, as living temples which have
been consecrated in Baptism.
2. Mary gives and dedicates herself to God as soon as she
is capable of serving Him, and that without any reservation, for
FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 461
all time, and irrevocably. When, then, shall we give ourselves
in earnest to God? True, we have been given to Him in holy
Baptism, we have been consecrated as His temples, we have re
nounced the devil and the world, we have vowed to live only for
God, and this vow we have, perhaps, often renewed ; but have
we kept it? What we gave with one hand — have we not taken
it away with the other? Have we not denied the temple of our
hearts by shameful lusts, lived for the world and vanity more
than for God? Ah, when shall we give ourselves up to God
sincerely and forever? Perhaps when we are old! But will
God accept our offering then? Will He be pleased that we
begin to serve Him only when we can no longer serve the
world ? that we first begin to live for Him when our life is soon
to cease? No; God is a jealous Lord, and is not pleased with
a heart divided between Him and creatures. He requires us to
love Him with all our heart and all our soul, and to serve Him
with all our powers. Let us, then, do this, and do it from our
youth ; let us keep ourselves in body and soul undefiled for the
Lord ; such love, and such love only, will He reward as perfect.
Prayer.
O God, Who wast pleased that the blessed Mary, ever vir
gin, the habitation of the Holy Ghost, should oh this day be
presented in the temple, grant, we beseech Thee, that by her
intercession we may deserve to be presented in the temple of
Thy glory. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xxiv. 14-16.
From the beginning, and before the world, was I created,
and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the
holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him. And so was
I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and
my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable
people, and in the portion of my God His inheritance, and my
abode is in the full assembly of saints.
GOSPEL. Luke xi. 27, 28.
And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain
woman from the crowd lifting up her voice said to Him :
Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave
462 FEAST OF ST. CATHARINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR.
Thee suck. But He said : Yea rather, blessed are they who hear
the word of God and keep it.
Explanation.
By His answer Jesus would have us understand that His
Mother was not to be blessed merely because she bore Him, the
Son of God, but rather because she at all times endeavored to
keep the word of God in her heart and to observe it in her life.
If you would be blessed, learn to be not only a hearer, but a
doer, of the word of God.
jfeast of St. Gatbarine, IDttotn anfc /IDartsr*
NOVEMBER 25.
T. CATHARINE, a noble lady of Alexandria, had from her
childhood made such extraordinary proficiency in the
knowledge of Christianity, and in other departments of learning,
that at the age of eighteen she put to confusion the wisdom of
the pagan philosophers. The occasion of her doing so arose
from the persecution of the Emperor Maxentius. For, having
heard that the young and beautiful Catharine had defended, in
the most profound manner, the divine character of Christianity,
he called together the most learned philosophers, and promised
them a considerable reward if they would refute Catharine and
bring her back to paganism. But the very contrary of this hap
pened, for she demonstrated the divine origin of Christianity
with such unanswerable wisdom that these philosophers received
the faith, and gave their lives for it. The emperor, irritated
thereby, sought to prevail upon her to abandon her faith by
promising to marry her, and, when this means proved ineffect
ual, by imprisoning her eleven days, by blows, by hunger and
thirst. But the consequence of this was his wife and one of his
generals, Porphyry, who visited Catharine in prison, were like
wise converted to Christianity, and prepared for the martyrdom
which they endured. At this the tyrant fell into a great rage,
and gave orders to have the body of St. Catharine cut in pieces
by a wheel set around with sharp knives and iron spikes. But
upon the holy martyr making the sign of the cross over this
frightful instrument of torture it burst into pieces — a miracle
by which many of the beholders were converted to the faith.
FEAST OF ST. CATHARINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. 463
Finally, the youthful heroine obtained, by being beheaded, the
double crown of virginity and martyrdom.
Prayer.
0 God, Who didst give the law to Moses on the summit of
Mount Sinai, and didst wonderfully deposit in the same place
the body of the blessed virgin and martyr Catharine by means
of Thy holy angels, grant, we beseech Thee, that by her merits
and intercession we may come to the mountain, which is Christ,
"Who liveth, etc.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. 11. 1-8, 12.
1 will give glory to Thee, O Lord, my King, and I will
praise Thee, O God my Saviour. I will give glory to Thy
name : for Thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and
hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an
unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in
the sight of them that stood by Thou hast been my helper.
And Thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the
mercy of Thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to de
vour. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from
the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about: from the
oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst
of the fire I was not burnt : from the depth of the belly of
hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from
an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue. My soul shall
praise the Lord even to death, for Thou deliverest them that
wait for Thee, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 1-13.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples this parable : The
kingdom of heaven shall be like to ten virgins, who taking their
lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And
five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish
having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them : but the
wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bride
groom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight
there was a cry made : Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye
forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed
their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise : Give us of your
464 FEAST OF ST. CATHARINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR.
oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying:
Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst
they went to buy the bridegroom came: and they that were
ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord,
open to us. But He answering said : Amen I say to you, I
know you not. "Watch ye, therefore, because you know not
the day nor the hour.
Explanation.
After having in the preceding chapter of this gospel spoken
of the Last Judgment, and warned us to watch, because this judg
ment would break upon us unexpectedly, Our Lord enforces
what He then said by this parable of a wedding to which the
bridegroom came when he was not looked for, and to which he
took with him those who were ready, but excluded those who
were not.
The marriage is the everlasting possession and enjoyment of
God ; the bridegroom is Jesus Christ ; the bride is His Church
upon earth ; the marriage-feast is the union of Christ with His
bride in heaven, which represents the marriage -hall ; the ten
virgins are all the faithful, inasmuch as all are invited to the
marriage of the Lamb and of the Bride, and to the everlast
ing feast which accompanies this union ; the wise virgins are
they who by their pureness from all sin, and by their good
works, keep themselves always ready for the coming of the
Lord; the foolish virgins are they who, contented with the
name of Christians, think but little on God and eternity, and
perform no good works. According to the interpretation of
the holy fathers, by the lamps we are to understand faith; by
the oil, charity ; good works, mercy ; by the vessels, the hearts
and consciences of men. The asking for oil is to show that
they who content themselves witli a dead faith in order to es
cape the trouble of works of charity and mercy will on the
day of judgment beg for a share in the merits of the just, but
without being heard. For the virtues of the just will not make
good the deficiencies of the wicked. How will you feel when
you then discover what you lack?
FEAST OF ST. CATHARINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. 465
Prayer.
O Jesus Christ, teacher of eternal life, we thank Thee for
having taught us how to keep ourselves prepared for Thy com
ing by a prudent, watchful life. But since we are unable to do
this of our own strength, grant us Thy grace, that the fire of
Thy divine love may burn in our hearts, in order that we may
constantly do what is good, and with Thee enter into everlasting
joys. Ah, grant that at the Last Judgment we may not hear
that terrible sentence, c ' I know you not ' ' ; but that joyful
summons, ' ' Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess the king
dom prepared for you from the beginning of the world."
Grant us this, O Jesus, our God and Saviour, Who hast re
deemed us by Thy precious blood, to Whom is due honor, praise,
thanksgiving, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.
PART THIRD.
EXPLANATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND OF
SOME OF THE CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH.
IN the celebration of her worship the Catholic Church makes
use: 1, of speech; 2, of those visible acts and symbols
known as ceremonies. These ceremonies have been ordained in
order that we may more easily lift up our hearts to God and the
contemplation of heavenly things.
How do the ceremonies help us to raise our minds to God
and heavenly things?
They help us : 1 . By making the worship of the Church im
pressive and solemn, thereby fixing our attention, and directing
it from things of this earth to God. 2. By placing before us
visible symbols of invisible mysteries, thus enabling us more easily
to reflect and meditate upon them.
Have all the ceremonies of the Church a peculiar sense and
meaning?
Certainly; every ceremony which the Church, inspired by
the Holy Ghost, uses in the celebration of her worship has a
mysterious significance, and should awaken holy thoughts in our
breasts.
Are not these ceremonies idle observances?
By no means, since: 1. God Himself in the Old Law pre
scribed for the Jews many ceremonies, with heavy penalties for
their non-observance. 2. Christ our Lord made use of various
ceremonies, as, for instance, when He fell flat on the ground,
and prayed (Mark xiv. 35) ; when He spat on the ground, and
making clay of the spittle, spread the clay upon the eyes of the
blind man, who thereupon recovered his sight (John ix. 6, Y.);
466
BAPTISM. 46'
when He touched the ear of the servant of the high priest, and
healed him (Luke xxii. 50, 51).
A
THE SACKAMEJSTTS.
SACRAMENT is a visible sign instituted by Jesus Christ
through which invisible grace and sanctification are com
municated to us. Christ instituted seven sacraments: Baptism,
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony.
Whence do we derive the ceremonies which, with the signs
instituted by Christ, are used in administering the sacraments?
From the Church, which, with the assistance of the Holy
Ghost, has ordained these ceremonies to increase our reverence
and respect.
Baptism,
T3 APTISM is a sacrament in which by water and the word of
-1— * God we are cleansed from all sin, and regenerated and
sanctified in Christ to life everlasting.
What are the different ceremonies of Baptism?
1. The preparatory ceremony. 2. The Baptism proper. 3.
The concluding ceremonies.
The preparatory ceremonies at the church door during the
first period of instruction, namely, the period of hearing, are as
follows : 1. The candidate remains outside the church, since he
can enter the Church only by Baptism. 2. He is given a saint's
name, so that he may have an advocate before God, and an example
after whom to model his own life. 3. He is asked if he desires
Baptism, and through it eternal life. 4. The priest breathes upon
him three times, saying : ' ' Depart from him, thou unclean spirit,
and make way for the Holy Ghost, the Comforter" (John xx.
22). 5. He makes the sign of the cross upon his forehead and
breast as a sign that he belongs to the crucified Saviour, Whose
teachings he must cherish in his heart and openly proclaim. 6.
He places blessed salt in his mouth, with the words: " Receive
the salt of wisdom ; it will be a propitiation for thee unto eternal
life. ' ' Salt is a symbol of Christian wisdom, and protection from
the foulness of sin. 7. Through repeated exorcisms the power
468 BAPTISM.
of Satan, who "has the power of death" (Heb. ii. 14), is
broken in the name of the Triune God. 8. For the second time
the priest makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the
person to be baptized, saying : ' ' Defile not, accursed spirit, this
sign of the cross which we place upon his brow." 9. The priest
by the imposition of hands symbolizes the protection of God,
and the stole placed upon the candidate as he is led into the
church is a sign of the Church's power by virtue of which the
priest receives him into its fold.
The ceremonies at the second period, namely, for the sup
plicants, are performed within the church. They are: 1. Since
Baptism is the sacrament of faith, the Apostles' Creed and the
Lord's Prayer are recited while entering the church. 2. The
priest, after the example of Jesus (Mark vii. 33), touches the
ears and nose of the person to be baptized with spittle, saying,
"Ephpheta," which means, "Be thou opened." This signifies
that man's spiritual sense through the grace of Baptism is opened
for the reception of instruction in heavenly truths. 3. The per
son being baptized must renounce Satan with all his works and
pomps ; for without this renunciation no man can follow Christ.
By the words Satan and his works we mean sin, and by his
pomps the spirit and vanities of this world by which Satan
dazzles the eyes of men and leads them into sin (Matt. iv. 8, 9).
Here follows the profession of faith, in the recital of the Apostles'
Creed. 4. Next comes the anointing of the shoulders and breast
with holy oil, since from now on the newly-baptized person must
be a soldier of Christ in the battle against the world and the devil.
How is the actual Baptism performed?
The person baptizing pours water upon the head of the per
son to be baptized, at the same time saying these words: "I
baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost."
What ceremonies follow Baptism?
1. Anointing the head with chrism, because the person bap
tized is now a Christian, one of God's anointed. 2. The presen
tation of a white cloth, and 3, a lighted candle. 4. Dismissal
with a blessing.
Of what are we admonished by the white cloth which we re
ceive at Baptism?
BAPTISM. 469
That we should preserve our innocence, throughout our
whole life, pure and unspotted. At its presentation, therefore,
the priest says : ' ' Take hence the white garment and bear it
unstained before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ our Lord,
that thou may est reach everlasting life. ' '
What is the meaning of the lighted candle which the person
just baptized must hold in his hand?
That the Christian by his virtuous life should be a guide to
all the world. " So let your light shine before men that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in
heaven " (Matt. v. 16). On presenting the candle the priest
says : ' ' Receive this burning light ; keep thy Baptism without
stain; obey the commandments of God, that when the Lord
shall come to the nuptial feast thou mayest go forth to meet
Him with all the saints of heaven, and mayest have life ever
lasting and live forever and ever. Amen. ' '
Why has the Church ordained the presence of sponsors?
1. That they may make the vows and promises in the name
of the child to be baptized. 2. In the event of the death of the
parents to see that it is brought up a Christian. The sponsors,
who should be good Catholics, are the spiritual parents of the
child baptized. They become spiritually related both to child
and parents, and cannot marry with either. In order that this
relationship and consequent impediment to marriage might not
extend too far, the Church has ordained that there shall be at
most two sponsors, one of each sex.
Besides Baptism by water, thore is also a Baptism of desire
and a Baptism of blood, which may take the place of the Baptism
of water when that cannot be obtained.
Baptism of desire is an earnest wish to obtain Baptism, joined
to perfect contrition and love for God. In such a case those
conditions are present that are necessary to a valid reception ;
for if the possibility do not exist God regards the good will,
and takes the will for the deed.
Baptism of blood is a voluntary martyr's death for the sake
of Christ. The constancy which gives up life itself includes
faith, charity, desire, and contrition.
470 CONFIRMATION.
Confirmation*
^ONFIEMATION is a sacrament in which, through the laying on
^ of the bishop's hands, prayer, and anointing, those who
have been baptized are strengthened by the Holy Ghost so that
they may firmly profess their faith and sincerely live up to it.
How does the bishop administer Confirmation?
1. He extends his hands over those to be confirmed, and
prays the Holy Ghost to descend upon them with His sevenfold
gifts. 2. He then lays his hand upon each one, and anoints
him with holy chrism. 3. He gives him a slight blow on the
cheek, saying, " Peace be with you." 4. He concludes by
giving them all the episcopal benediction.
What does the imposition of hands signify?
It signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit, and particularly
the protection of God under which the Christian is henceforth to
remain.
How does the bishop anoint those to be confirmed?
He makes the sign of the cross with chrism on the forehead
of each one, saying at the same time : "I sign thee with the
sign of the cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen."
Of what does the chrism consist?
The chrism, which every year on Holy Thursday is blessed
by the bishop with great solemnity, consists of the oil of olives
and balsam.
"What does the oil signify?
The oil signifies inward strength for the struggle against the
enemies of our salvation. Oil was formerly used by soldiers
and athletes to make their limbs supple and strong. As oil
strengthens the limbs of the body, so does the Holy Spirit
strengthen our souls for combat with sin.
Why is fragrant balsam mixed with the oil?
To signify that he who is confirmed receives grace to keep
himself pure from the corruption of the world, and by a pious
life give forth the sweet odor of virtue. Balsam serves to
CONFIRMATION. 471
preserve wounds from corruption, and gives forth a pleasing
and fragrant odor.
Why does the bishop make the sign of the cross upon the
forehead of the one to be confirmed?
To signify that a Christian should never be ashamed of the
cross, but confess without fear his faith in Christ crucified.
" For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of
God unto salvation for every one that believeth " (Romans
i. 16).
Why does the bishop after anointing him give him a slight
blow on the cheek?
To remind him that, as he is now strong and accountable,
he should be ready to suffer patiently any humiliation for Jesus'
sake.
Why does he at the same time say, " Peace be with you"?
Because, having now received the fulness of divine grace
and heavenly peace, he should carefully guard it as a consolation
in every sorrow.
A priest thereupon dries with a piece of cotton the brow of
the person being confirmed, in order to prevent the sacred
chrism from being desecrated in any way.
What are the words of the benediction given by the bishop
after Confirmation?
" May the Lord bless you out of Sion, that you may see the
goods of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and have life ever
lasting. Amen."
Why are sponsors also ordained for Confirmation?
That they may first see that the person is confirmed, and
then by deed and word aid him in the spiritual combat to which
by this sacrament he has been dedicated.
The sponsor binds himself to the fulfilment of this duty by
laying his hand on the right shoulder of the person being con
firmed. He thus becomes his spiritual parent and guardian for
the preservation of the grace of Confirmation. The same
spiritual relationship and impediments of marriage exist as with
sponsors in Baptism.
What does the Church require of sponsors in Confirmation?
They must be Catholics : they must be confirmed and old
472 THE HOLY EUCHARIST.
enough to be able to fulfil their duties as sponsors. Parents
cannot be sponsors for their children ; nor can the same person
be sponsor both at Baptism and Confirmation.
Ube tools J6ucfoarf8t*
T
HE Holy Eucharist is the true body and blood of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who is really and substantially present under
the appearances of bread and wine for the nourishment of our
souls.
When do we receive the Holy Eucharist as a nourishment
for our souls?
At holy communion, when we actually partake of the body
and blood of Jesus Christ.
Communion means " union with." We also speak of re
ceiving the Holy Eucharist, the Lord's supper, and the heavenly
banquet.
When and where is communion given?
For those who are well communion is given in the church
either during Mass after the priest has received, or it may be
given when no Mass is being celebrated. Those who are sick
can receive in their homes at any time.
How is communion administered in church?
1. The server or acolyte repeats the Confiteor. or general
confession of sin. 2. Turning to the people, the priest recites
two prayers imploring the remission of sin. 3. He exposes the
consecrated Host with the words : ' ' Behold the Lamb of God,
Who taketh away the sins of the world." He then repeats
three times : ' * Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter
under my roof; say but the word and my soul shall be healed."
4. He places the consecrated Host upon the tongue of the com
municant, saying: " May the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ
preserve thy soul unto life everlasting. Amen." 5. Eeturn-
ing to the altar, the priest recites the communion prayer of the
Church, and then gives the benediction.
When the attendant recites the Confiteor, he does so in the
name of those who are about to receive. The following are the
prayers of supplication at the end of the Confiteor : < ' May the
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and
THE HOLY EUCHAEIST. 473
lead yon unto life everlasting. Amen." " May the almighty
and merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution, and full remis
sion of all your sins. Amen."
How is holy communion given to the sick?
A bell is first rung, then the sacred Host is borne in proces
sion to the house of the sick person, placed upon a table pre
pared for it, a prayer is said, and the place and those present
are sprinkled with holy water. The priest then gives com
munion the same as in the church, except when the sick person
receives it as viaticum ; at such times the priest presents the
consecrated Host, saying: ''Brother (or, sister), receive as a
holy viaticum the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ ; may it pro
tect thee from the evil spirit, and lead thee to eternal life.
Amen."
When the communion is not given as viaticum, the priest
repeats the same formula as is used in the church. The table
on which the consecrated Host is placed must be covered with
a clean white cloth, a cross, two lighted wax candles, and a
vessel with holy water must also be provided. In this coun
try the Blessed Sacrament is, of necessity, carried privately,
with all out-door ceremonies omitted.
Why is the holy communion sometimes called Viaticum?
Because it is given to the sick person as food and sustenance
for the last dangerous road to eternity.
For what other purpose besides being given in communion
is the Holy Eucharist kept in the tabernacle?
In order that on appointed days and particular occasions it
may be exposed to the devotion of the faithful, and bestow
blessings upon them. At least six lighted candles must be used
at the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. For this ceremony
the ciborium may be used ; or when it is desired to give it more
solemnity, an elegant receptacle called the monstrance, in which
the consecrated Host may be seen. Benediction is given both
with the ciborium and monstrance ; when the latter is used it i?
called solemn benediction.
Why does the Church give this benedi ,tion of the Blessed
Sacrament?
Because in the Blessed Sacrament Jesus Christ is actually
474 THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE.
present and still blesses His followers, as when on earth He
blessed the people and His disciples.
How is the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given?
A hymn in honor of the Blessed Sacrament is sung, and the
priest makes the sign of the cross over the people with the
sacred Host, because every blessing comes from Christ's death
upon the cross.
During the Benediction proper, as a mark of reverence the
priest covers his shoulders and hands with a white silken cloth
called the veil. During the exposition and benediction incense
is offered up to the Blessed Sacrament as a sign of adoration.
Why do we have processions of the Blessed Sacrament?
That we may in a solemn manner present our adoration to
the Saviour in the sacred Host, and openly profess our belief in
His real presence.
On Corpus Christi we have the most solemn and imposing
ceremonial for the exposition, benediction, and procession of the
Blessed Sacrament (see page 256, at the explanation of the
ecclesiastical year).
What is the meaning of the perpetual light that is kept burn
ing before the altar on which the Blessed Sacrament is placed ?
The perpetual light which must be kept burning continuously
signifies: 1. The continued presence of Jesus Christ in the
Blessed Sacrament. 2. The reverence and worship which are
constantly due to Him. 3. That Jesus Christ is the light of the
world.
P
TTbe Sacrament of penance*
>ENANCE is a sacrament in which the priest, as the represen
tative of God, forgives sins when the sinner is heartily
•sorry for them, confesses them sincerely, and is determined to
do penance for them.
Where is the Sacrament of Penance administered?
In the church, where confessionals are erected. The sick
and those who are deaf may make their confession in some other
suitable place.
What vestments does the priest wear when hearing con
fession?
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 475
In addition to the cassock, the usual priestly garment, lie
wears a violet stole and the surplice.
The priest is seated, as a sign of his judicial power ; the peni
tent, however, kneels, as a sign of reverence and humility.
How is the Sacrament of Penance administered?
1. The priest gives the penitent his blessing, and prays that
God may give him grace to confess his sins fully and with con
trite heart. 2. The penitent confesses his sins. 3. The priest
gives him fatherly advice and warning, imposes the penance, and
then, if worthy, gives him absolution.
What are the words of absolution?
" I absolve thee from thy sins, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." As he pro
nounces these words, the priest makes the sign of the cross over
the penitent.
Before and after absolution the priest repeats other short
prayers, and finally dismisses the penitent with the words,
"Go in peace, and pray for me," or some other suitable
formula.
INDULGENCES.
What punishment is remitted in the Sacrament of Penance?
The eternal punishment is remitted in full; the temporal
only in part. What remains, however, can be expiated by in
dulgences.
What is an indulgence?
It is a remission made, outside the Sacrament of Penance, of
the temporal punishment still due for our sins already forgiven,
and which punishment must be undergone here or in purga
tory.
How does the Church remit the punishment due to sin?
The Church satisfies the divine justice out of the inexhaust
ible treasury of the merits of Christ and His saints.
The virtue and efficacy of indulgences flow from the spiritual
treasury of the Church, which consists of the infinite merits of
Christ and His saints. This treasury is to be considered the
common property of the faithful which the Church administers
and from which, by virtue of the communion of saints, making
476 THE SACRAMENT OF EXTREME UNCTION.
us all members of one body, the abundance of one supplies the
want of the other (n. Cor. viii. 14).
How many kinds of indulgences are there?
Two : plenary indulgences, which remit all the temporal pun
ishment due to sin, and partial indulgences, by which only a
portion of the punishment is remitted.
What do you understand by an indulgence of forty days,
seven years, etc. ?
A remission of so much temporal punishment as would have
been remitted to him who under the ancient law of the Church did
penance for forty days or for seven years. An indulgence of
forty days is also called a quarantine.
What is the indulgence for the dying?
A plenary indulgence which the Church gives to the dying
at the hour of death, after receiving the Viaticum. This is like
wise called a general absolution. There is no fixed formula for
bestowing indulgences; they may be gained by fulfilling the
conditions prescribed at the time. The Church has a fixed for
mula only for the indulgence given to the dying. The assertion
that the Church by indulgences pardons past or future sins, or
that she dispenses indulgences for money, is a slander. True, the
Church in bestowing indulgences sometimes prescribes, in addi
tion to sincere repentance, that alms be given for worthy objects,
as for example to build a church or found a hospital. This cus
tom, praiseworthy in the beginning, in time became subject to
abuse. All abuses were discontinued by order of the Council of
Trent; the same council declared, however, that " the custom
of granting indulgences to Christian people is exceedingly bene
ficial, and is confirmed by the authority of the holy council."
Ube Sacrament of Extreme -auction,
TTIXTREME Unction is a sacrament in which, through the anoint-
-t^ ing with holy oil and the prayer of the priest, the grace of
God is imparted to the sick in danger of death, for the welfare of
the soul, and often also for that of the body. This sacrament is
called Extreme Unction, because it is usually the last sacred
anointing administered by the Church,
How is Extreme Unction administered?
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY. 477
1. The priest, having presented to the sick person a crucifix
to kiss, sprinkles him, others who are present, and the place it
self with holy water, and then recites a series of prayers. 2.
The Confiteor, or general confession, is then said in the usual
manner. 3. The priest, making the sign of the cross three
times, prays that through the imposition of his hands, and the
intercession of the angels and saints, all power of the evil spirit
may be extinguished in the sick person. 4. He anoints the five
senses with holy oil in -the form of the cross, repeating this
prayer at each anointing : ' ' Through this holy unction and
His most tender mercy, may the Lord forgive thee whatever
sins thou hast committed by thy sight, by thy hearing," etc.
5. The priest then prays for the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the sick man, and gives him his blessing.
Why is oil used in this sacrament?
Because oil softens, strengthens, and heals, and is strikingly
significant of the effects of the sacrament.
Why are the five senses anointed?
The five senses are anointed because, being the instruments
of sin, their anointing signifies that our soul is cleansed from
guilt. Extreme Unction is usually given immediately after the
Viaticum. Penance, the Holy Viaticum, and Extreme Unction
are sometimes called ' ' the sacraments of the dying, " or u the
last sacraments."
How does the Church show her loving solicitude for the dy
ing?
By ordaining special prayers and litanies to be offered up
for them by the priest to obtain the grace of a happy death.
These prayers are sometimes called the recommendation of a
soul departing.
F
©rfcers,
OR instruction on this sacrament see under Thirteenth Sun
day after Pentecost, page 305.
TEbe Sacrament of flDatrimons,
MATRIMONY is a sacrament in which a single man and a single
woman are united in marriage, and receive grace from
478 THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY.
God to fulfil the duties of their state faithfully until death.
This sacrament imposes on the married couple the duty to live
together in peace and love and conjugal fidelity, to bring up as
Christians the children God may send them, and cheerfully share
one another's joys and sorrows. The free consent of both
parties to the sacrament is absolutely essential.
How is the Sacrament of Matrimony received?
The bridal pair declare before their pastor and two witnesses
that they take one another as husband and wife, whereupon the
priest blesses their union. A priest other than the pastor can
officiate at this sacrament only when he has the permission of
the pastor or bishop.
What is the ceremonial of this sacrament?
1. The bridal pair emphasize their consent by giving each
other their right hand. 2. The priest with a blessing confirms
their union in these words: " I join you in matrimony in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen." In some places the priest winds the stole about the
hands of the newly-married couple as a sign that this confirma
tion and ratification is done in God's name. 3. He blesses the
wedding-ring, which is a symbol of their indissoluble union, and
the love and fidelity of the married pair. 4. The bridal pair
then receive the special and solemn matrimonial blessing. This
is given during the bridal Mass, immediately after the Pater
noster. "When the bride is a widow, or when the marriage
takes place at a prohibited time, this special blessing is not
given, since a second marriage does not truly represent the union
of Christ with the Church.
PART FOURTH.
EXPLANATION OF THE MASS; MORNING AND
EVENING PRAYERS; DEVOTIONS FOR CONFES
SION AND COMMUNION ; THE STATIONS OF THE
CROSS; PRAYERS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS, ETC.
T
1bolE Sacrifice of tbe
HE Mass is the perpetual sacrifice of the New Law, in which
Christ our Lord, under the appearances of bread and wine,
offers Himself to His heavenly Father, by the hands of the priest,
in an unbloody manner, as He once offered Himself on the cross
in a bloody manner.
To celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass the priest needs :
1. The altar. 2. The chalice. 3. The prescribed vestments. 4.
The Missal, or Mass-book, containing the formula of the Mass
for each day. 5. The assistants, or acolytes.
The altar is the place consecrated by the bishop for offering
up the holy sacrifice of the Mass. It represents the table at
which Jesus instituted the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, and
has, therefore, the form of a table. We distinguish the high
altar upon which, with us, the Blessed Sacrament is usually
placed, and the side altars. On the altar of the Blessed Sacra
ment there is always a tabernacle, before which the sanctuary
lamp is kept perpetually burning.
How must the altar be prepared for the sacrifice of the
Mass?
The altar-table must be made of stone, within which are en
closed holy relics, and it must be covered with three linen cloths,
and bear a crucifix with two candlesticks and wax candles. To
479
480 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
decorate the altar sacred images, reliquaries, and flowers may
also be used.
Why must the altar be of stone, and why must it contain
sacred relics?
Because it represents Christ, the corner-stone of the Church,
and because in the early days of the Church Mass was usually
offered up on the tombs of the holy martyrs.
Why must it be covered with linen cloths?
Partly as a sign of respect and reverence for the holy sac
rifice, and partly to prevent the precious blood from falling to
the floor, should any be spilled.
It is strictly prescribed that linen only shall be used for
dressing the altar, as well as in the general use of the Church,
first, in accordance with an old custom that owes its origin to the
fact that the dead body of Christ was clothed with linen when
laid in the sepulchre, and, moreover, on account of the signifi
cance usually attached to a linen garment, namely, sincerity and
purity of heart (Acts xix. 8). These virtues are attained with
difficulty by frequent prayer, vigilance, and self-denial, as pure
linen cloth was formerly prepared by hard and toilsome labor.
Why is a crucifix placed on the altar?
To remind us that the holy sacrifice of the Mass is the un
bloody renewal of the sacrifice of the cross.
The chalice is the vessel into which at the Offertory the
priest pours the wine which is about to be changed into the
blood of Christ.
The cup of the chalice, as distinguished from the stand or
foot, must be made of gold, or at least of silver gold-plated
inside, as a mark of the reverence due to the precious blood.
To the chalice belongs the paten, or plate, which must also be
gold or gold-plated. The chalice and paten are consecrated by
the bishop. To prevent anything dropping into the chalice a
small frame covering is provided, called the pall. Beneath the
chalice and the sacred Host is placed a linen cloth called a cor
poral, from corpus, body, because the body of Our Lord is placed
upon it. After Mass is over the corporal is placed in the burse.
For cleaning the chalice, and also the lips and fingers of the
priest, a small linen cloth is used, called a purificator. When
the priest approaches the altar and until the Offertory, the chal-
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 481
ice is covered with a cloth called the veil, similar in color to the
vestments used in the Mass.
THE VESTMENTS.
Why has the Church prescribed particular vestments for the
officiating priest?
In order to remind us that the priest ministers at the altar,
not in his own person, but as the representative of Jesus
Christ, and that he celebrates a most sacred and divine mystery.
In the Old Law God Himself prescribed and commanded ex
plicitly the character of the vestments to be worn (Exodus
xxviii. 43).
The particular vestments worn by the priest during the holy
sacrifice of the Mass are: 1. The amice; 2, the alb; 3, the
cincture; 4, the maniple; 5, the stole; 6, the chasuble.
The amice or shoulder-cloth of linen, which is first laid
upon the head, then upon the neck and shoulders, of the
priest, signifies u the helmet of salvation" (Ephes. vi. 17),
with which the priest arms himself against the assaults of the
evil spirit. The alb, a long white garment, is a symbol of the
spotless innocence and perfect purity of soul and body with
which the priest should approach the altar. The cincture is a
symbol of priestly continence and chastity. The maniple,
formerly a handkerchief borne on the left arm, is a symbol of
penance, and of the cares and burdens of the priestly calling.
The stole was formerly an entire garment — indeed a splendid
garb of honor and dignity ; now, however, it is but a narrow
strip placed over the shoulders and crossed upon the breast. It
is worn not only during Mass, but also at the performance of
every priestly function. Worn over the shoulders it signifies
that the priest in his calling assumes the sweet yoke of the
Lord. As a garb of splendor it symbolized the robe of im
mortality. The chasuble or outer garment is a symbol of holy
love, and the yoke of the Lord which the priest joyfully bears.
The covering for the head, worn by the priest, is called a biretta.
The cope is worn in processions, at solemn Vespers, at blessings,
and benedictions.
What is the meaning of the different colored vestments used
by the Church?
482 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
1. White signifies innocence and spiritual joy, and is used
on feasts of the Lord and of such saints as were not martyrs.
2. Red signifies love of God and martyrdom, and is therefore
used at Whitsuntide and on the feasts of martyrs. 3. Green
signifies hope of eternal life, and is used on the Sundays after
Epiphany and Pentecost, when no other feast occurs. 4. Violet
signifies humility and penance, and is therefore used during
Lent and Advent, and on fast- days when on these days no other
feast is to be celebrated. 5. Black is the color of sorrow, and
is used on Good Friday and at Masses for the dead.
SYMBOLICAL OBJECTS USED DURING THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF
THE MASS.
What objects are employed as symbols during Mass?
Lights and incense.
What do the lights on the altar signify?
They are symbolical: 1, of Jesus Christ, the God-man,
the true Light of the world ; 2, of faith which enlightens,
hope which aspires, and charity which should always burn in
our hearts ; 3, they remind us also of the persecutions of the
early Christians, who were forced to offer up the sacrifice in the
dark catacombs or caves.
What is the meaning of incense?
Incense is a symbol of prayer which ascends to heaven as a
sweet odor before God (Ps. cxl. 2). The incense is kept in a
small vessel, from which it is taken with a spoon made for the
purpose, and placed on the coals burning in the censer.
GENERAL CEREMONIES OBSERVED DURING THE HOLY SACRIFICE
OF THE MASS.
What symbolical acts are most frequently used during Mass?
1. The sign of the cross; 2, genuflection or bending of the
knee; 3, bowing of the head; 4, joining and lifting the hands;
5, imposing of hands; 6, striking the breast; 7, kissing sacred
objects.
The sign of the cross: 1, reminds us of the death of Christ
on the cross, which is commemorated in the Mass ; 2, it gives
to the objects so marked a certain dedication and sanctification ;
3, it is an invocation for the grace, the blessing, and the pro-
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 483
tection of the Most High, for through the sign of the cross all
blessings are given to us. The bending of the knee and bowing
of the head are signs of adoration, respect, and homage. Joined
and upraised hands indicate earnest supplication and entreaty
for aid. The imposition of hands is a symbol of the bestowal
of God's blessing and that of the Holy Ghost. The striking of
the breast springs from the consciousness of culpability and un-
worthiness in the sight of God. The kissing of sacred objects,
such as the gospel, the altar, etc., is an expression of reverence,
of a pure and holy love, a longing for union and communion
with God.
PRAYERS AT MASS.
THE PREPARATION AT THE FOOT OF THE ALTAK.
This prayer offered at the foot of the altar signifies our un-
worthiness to approach the Holy of holies, unless freed from
sin.
»J* In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen. I will go in to the altar of God. To God
Who giveth joy to my youth. Judge me, O God, and dis
tinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy : deliver me
from the unjust and deceitful man. For Thou art God, my
strength; why hast Thou cast me off? And why do I go sor
rowful, whilst the enemy afflicteth me? Send forth Thy light
and Thy truth : they have conducted me and brought me to
Thy holy mount, and into Thy tabernacles. And I will go in
to the altar of God; to God, Who giveth joy to my youth. To
Thee, O God, my God, I will give praise on the harp: why
art thou sad, O my soul, and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope
in God, for I will still praise Him : the salvation of my counte
nance and my God. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
Joining his hands and humbly lowing down the priest says
THE CONFITEOE.
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever virgin, to
blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to
the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you,
Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and
deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most
484 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever
virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist,
the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and you, Father,
to pray to our Lord God for me.
P. May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee
tiiy sins, and bring thee to life everlasting.
It. Amen.
The acolyte or server, in the name of the congregation, now recites the
CONFITEOR. Unite your prayers to his, and ask God to forgive you
your sins. When the server is finished, the priest, with joined hands
gives the ABSOLUTION, saying :
P. May Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you
your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.
It. Amen.
Signing himself with the sign of the cross, he says :
P. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, •%*
absolution, and remission of our sins.
It. Amen.
Then, bowing down, he proceeds :
P. Thou wilt turn, O Lord, and bring us to life.
It. Arid Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.
P. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
It. And grant us Thy salvation.
P. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
P. The Lord be with you.
It. And with thy spirit.
Going up to the altar, the priest says in a low voice :
Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds into the Holy
of holies : through Christ our Lord. Amen.
•%• Sowing down, he kisses the altar and says :
We beseech Thee, O Lord, by the merits of Thy saints,
whose relics are here, and of all the saints, that Thou wouldst
vouchsafe to forgive me all my sins. Amen.
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
Then the priest, signing himself with the sign of the cross, reads the
INTROIT.
The Introit, or Entrance, is so called because formerly it
was sung when the bishop entered the church. It consists of
two verses from Scripture and the " Glory be to the Father."
The selection from Scripture at times expresses the spirit of
the festival of the day.
Blessed be the Holy Trinity and Undivided Unity ; we will
give glory to Him, because He hath shown His mercy to us.
THE PRIEST GOES TO THE ALTAR.
THE PRAYER AT THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR.
Ps. O our Lord God, how wonderful is Thy name in all the
earth !
Glory be, etc.
Blessed, etc., to Ps.
After the INTROIT the KYRIE is sung.
The Kyrie is a prayer for mercy offered by the priest, who
stands at the centre of the altar. The responses are given by
the acolytes. The words of the prayer are in the Greek tongue.
It is addressed to the Blessed Trinity, and is repeated three
times to each person.
Lord, have mercy on us. (Three times.)
Christ, have mercy on us. (Three times.)
Lord, have mercy on us. (Three times.)
486 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
Afterward, standing at the middle of the altar, he says the GLORIA.
The Gloria is a solemn song of praise to the goodness and
majesty of the Triune God, and begins with the words of the
angel at the birth of Jesus, namely, 4 ' Glory be to God on
high," etc.
Being a joyful hymn, it is not recited at Masses offered up
for penitence or mourning, such as those in Advent, Lent, fast-
days of precept, Masses for the dead, or whenever the priest
wears violet vestments.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good
will. We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we adore Thee; we
glorify Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory, O
Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord
Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son ; O Lord God, Lamb of
God, Son of the Father, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us ; Who takest away the sins of the world, re
ceive our prayers ; Who sittest at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us. For Thou only art holy : Thou only art
Lord; Thou only, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy
Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
After the Gloria the priest, turning to the people, either
speaks or sings the oft-repeated salutation, " Dominus vobis-
cum." — " The Lord be with you; " the server, or the choir at
High Mass, answering, " Et cum spiritu tuo." — u And with thy
spirit. ' '
Then follows the COLLECT.
By the Collect we understand the prayer of the Church
which is offered up by the priest in the name of all the faithful
present. In this prayer all the wants and cares of the Church
and her children are united and laid before God.
The Collect and other prayers, both at the holy sacrifice of
the Mass and other religious services, begin witli the word
Oremus — Let us pray, calling on the people to offer up their
prayers with the priest, who is the representative of all. They
generally close with the following words : " Through Our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in
union with the Holy Ghost, God forever and forever." To
which the server or the choir answers for the people, "Amen."
Almighty and eternal God, we humbly beseech Thee merci
fully to give ear to the prayers of Thy servant, which he offers
THE HOLY SACEIFICE OF THE MASS.
487
Thee in the name of Thy Church and in behalf of us Thy
people : accept them to the honor of Thy name and the good of
our souls ; and grant us all those blessings which may in any way
contribute to our salvation; through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Then is read the EPISTLE of the day, or the following may le read instead :
Rejoice in the Lord always : again, I say, rejoice. Let your
modesty be known to all men : The Lord is nigh. Be nothing
AT THE INTROIT.
AT THE KYRIE ELEISON.
solicitous : but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And
the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, what
soever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, what
soever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if
there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these
things. The things which you have both learned, and received,
and heard, and seen in me, these do ye : and the God of peace
shall be with you.
After this follows a species of interlude called the Gradual,
which, in accordance with the feast, expresses either praise,
thanks, longing, or petition.
488 THE HOLT SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
At Easter it is called Alleluia, in times of penance Tract.
On certain feasts and at Masses for the dead another hymn
is sung called Sequence.
THE GRADUAL.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who beholdest the deep and
sittest on the cherubim. V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the
firmament of heaven, and worthy of praise forever.
V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and
worthy of praise forever.
While the book is being moved to the gospel side of the altar, the priest,
standing in the middle, prays that he may worthily announce the Gos
pel of Christ, as follows :
Cleanse my heart and my lips, O Almighty God, Who didst
cleanse the lips of the prophet Isaias with a burning coal ; and
vouchsafe, through Thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I
may worthily proclaim Thy holy Gospel. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
May the Lord be in my heart, and on my lips, that I may
worthily and in a becoming manner announce His holy Gospel.
Amen.
Then, going to the gospel side of the altar, the priest says :
P. The Lord be with you.
7?. And with thy spirit.
P. The continuation (or beginning) of the holy gospel ac
cording to N.
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Then is read the GOSPEL of the day, or the following may be read :
P. At that time Jesus said to His disciples ; All power is
given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye, therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and behold I am
with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
E. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
During the reading of the gospel the people stand as a sign
of reverence for the word of God and a willingness to follow it.
Each one also makes the sign of the cross on the forehead, lips,
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
489
and breast, to signify that he believes and maintains the truth
of the Gospel, and will proclaim it with his lips, and with up
right heart will abide by it.
After reading the gospel, the priest as a mark of respect
kisses the book, and says in a low voice : By the words of the
gospel may our sins be blotted out.
AFTER THE GLORIA.
AT THE EPISTLE.
On Sundays and holy-days a sermon is usually preached here,
on the gospel of the day.
Then standing at the middle of the altar, with his hands joined, the priest
says the NICENE CREED.
The Creed is the profession of faith made by the universal
Church assembled in council at Nice in the year 325, and at
Constantinople in the year 381. It begins with the Latin word
" Credo," — " I believe," and the name Credo has been applied
to the entire prayer. On days of the week on which no feast
occurs, or when the feast is that of a martyr, confessor, virgin,
or widow only, the Credo is not said ; nor is it said in Masses for
the dead.
THE NICENE CREED.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth, and of all tilings visible and invisible. And in one
490 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the
Fathu- before all ages ; God of God, Light of light, true God
of true God; begotten, not made; consubstantial with the
Father, by Whom all things were made, Who for us men, and
for our salvation, came down from heaven ; and was incarnate
by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; AND BECAME MAN.
(Here all kneel.} He was crucified also for us, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And the third day He rose
again, according to the Scriptures; ascended into heaven, sitteth
at the right hand of the Father; and He is to come again
with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; of His
kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the
Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and
the Son : Who together with the Father and the Son is adored
and glorified : Who spoke by the prophets. And one holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the
remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Then the priest kisses the altar, and turning to the people, says :
P. The Lord be with you.
E. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Here follows the OFFERTORY.
This is a short extract from Holy Scripture which serves to
illustrate the motive of the feast.
Formerly, during the chanting of the Offertory, the people
brought their offerings to the altar. Of this custom we have a
survival in the offerings on feast-days and in Masses for the
dead.
Blessed be God the Father, and the only-begotten Son of
God, as likewise the Holy Ghost; for He has shown mercy
to us.
Then taking the paten with the Host, the priest offers it up, saying :
Accept, O holy Father, almighty, eternal God, this immac
ulate Host, which I, Thy unworthy servant, offer unto Thee, my
living and true God, for my innumerable sins, offences, and neg
ligences ; and for all here present ; as also for all faithful Chris-
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
491
tians, ootli living and dead ; that it may be profitable for my own
and for their salvation unto life everlasting. Amen.
Then making the sign of the cross with the paten, he places the host upon
the corporal. The priest pours wine and water into the chalice, Messing
the water before it is mixed, saying:
O God, *J« Who, in creating human nature, didst wonderfully
dignify it, and hast still more wonderfully renewed it, grant
that, by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made
AT THE GOSPEL.
BEFORE THE OFFERTORY.
partakers of His divinity Who vouchsafed to become partaker of
our humanity, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of, etc.
The host must be unleavened wheat bread, and the wine
must be the pure unadulterated juice of the grape; for they
must be similar to the offerings used by Christ at the Last Sup
per.
The water poured into the wine signifies the union of the
divine and human natures in Christ, and also our union with Him
in holy communion.
Then the priest takes the chalice, and offers it, saying:
We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, be
seeching Thy clemency that in the sight of Thy divine Majesty
492 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
it may ascend with the odor of sweetness, for our salvation, and
for that of the whole world. Amen.
Then he makes the sign of the cross with the chalice, places it upon the
corporal, and covers it with the pall. Then, with his hands joined
upon the altar, and slightly bowing down, he says:
In the spirit of humility, and with a contrite heart, let us bo
received by Thee, O Lord ; and grant that the sacrifice we offer
in Thy sight this day may be pleasing to Thee, O Lord God.
The priest, elevating his eyes towards heaven, and stretching out his hands,
which he afterwards joins, makes the sign of the cross over the host
and chalice, while he says:
Come, O sanctifier, almighty, eternal God, and bless »|« this
sacrifice prepared to Thy holy name.
The priest, with his hands joined, goes to the epistle side of the altar,
where he washes his fingers. At the LAVABO the priest recites a part of
the 25th Psalm, as follows:
I will wash my hands among the innocent, and will compass
Thy altar, O Lord.
That I may hear the voice of Thy praise ; and tell all Thy
wondrous works.
I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of Thy house, and the
place where Thy glory dwelleth.
Take not away my soul with the wicked, nor my life with
bloody men.
In whose hands are iniquities : their right hand is filled with
gifts.
But as for me, I have walked in my innocence : redeem me
and have mercy on me.
My foot hath stood in the direct way ; in the churches I will
bless Thee, O Lord.
Returning and bowing before the middle of the altar with joined hands,
the priest implores the Most Holy Trinity to receive the offering , in
union with the sacrifice of the Saviour and the merits of His saints, in
these words:
Keceive, O Holy Trinity, this oblation which we make to
Thee in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honor of the blessed Mary ever
virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and
Paul, of these and of all the saints, that it may be available to
their honor and our salvation: and may they vouchsafe to
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
493
intercede for us in heaven whose memory we celebrate on earth.
Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Then he kisses the altar, and having turned himself towards the people,
extending and joining his hands, he raises his voice a little, and says
the ORATE, FRATRES.
Brethren, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be accept
able to God the Father Almighty.
R. May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands, to
AT THE OFFERING OF THE HOST.
AT THE OFFERING OF THE CHALICE.
the praise and glory of His name, and to our benefit, and that of
all His holy Church.
P. Amen.
Then the Secret Prayers are recited. They are so called
because uttered by the priest in a low voice. We again beg,
with a special reference to the feast of the day, to have our
offerings accepted by God. After this comes the Preface.
This marks the transition or introduction to the second part of
the Mass. This thanksgiving and glorifying of God in the
Preface is governed by the feasts and time of the ecclesiastical
year.
THE PREFACE.
P. Forever and ever.
-Z?. Amen.
494 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Here he lifts up his hands.
P. Lift up your hearts.
E. We have lifted them to the Lord.
He joins his hands before his breast and bows his head while he says:
P. Let us give thanks to our Lord God.
R. It is just and right.
He then disjoins his hands, and keeps them in this posture until the end
of the PREFACE, after which he again joins them, and lowing, says,
SANCTUS, etc. When he says BENEDICTUS, etc., he crosses himself.
THE PREFACE.
It is truly meet and just, right and salutary, that we should
always, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O holy Lord,
Father Almighty, eternal God. Who together with Thy only-
begotten Son and the Holy Ghost art one God and one Lord ;
not in a singularity of one person, but in a trinity of one sub
stance. For that which by Thy revelation we believe of Thy
glory, the same we believe of Thy Son, and the same of the
Holy Ghost, without any difference or distinction ; that in the
confession of a true and eternal Deity, distinctness in the per
sons, unity in the essence, and equality in the majesty may be
adored. Whom the angels and archangels, the cherubim also
and seraphim praise ; and cease not daily to cry out with one
voice, saying.
Here the bell is rung thrice.
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. The heavens and
the earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest !
Blessed is He that cometh in *%• the name of the Lord. Ho
sanna in the highest !
These last are the words with which the people of Jerusalem
greeted the Saviour on Palm Sunday. They call on us to greet
Him in like manner, now that He is about to come to us in the
Blessed Eucharist.
THE CANON OF THE MASS.
This most solemn part of the holy mysteries is so called
because the word means, in Greek, a rule. The language is
very grave and dignified, and it is -read in a low voice to express
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
495
the silence of Christ in His passion, and His hiding at that time
His glory and divinity, as well as to signify the vast importance
of that common cause to all mankind, which the priest is then
representing to the ear of God, and the reverence and awe with
which priest and people ought to assist at these tremendous
mysteries. The priest extending, raising, and joining his hands,
(raising, too, his eyes, as if to direct his attention, and immedi
ately lowering them), bows over the altar, and with his hands
AT THE ORATE FRATRES.
AT THE SANCTUS.
resting on the altar, invokes the Father of mercies, through
Christ His Son, on the Church militant on earth. He con
tinues :
We therefore humbly pray and beseech Thee, most merci
ful Father, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord (he kisses
the altar), that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept and bless
these »J* gifts, these »J* presents, these holy >J« unspotted sacrifices,
which in the first place we offer Thee, for Thy holy Catholic
Church ; to which vouchsafe to grant peace, as also to preserve,
unite, and govern it throughout the world ; together with Thy
servant N. our Pope, N. our Bishop, as also all orthodox be
lievers and professors of the Catholic and apostolic faith.
496 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
THE COMMEMORATION OF THE LIVING.
The preceding prayer contained the offering of the sacrifice
for the whole Church, but with holy importunity the priest
renews the oblation for those recommended to him, and for all
who hear the Mass.
Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants and handmaids N.
and N.
Here the priest joins his hands, and prays, as we all should, for those
for whom he specially intends to pray; then extending his hands, he
proceeds:
And of all here present, whose faith is known and devotion
apparent unto Thee, for whom we offer, or who offer up to
Thee this sacrifice of praise for themselves, their families and
friends, for the redemption of their souls, for the hope of their
safety and salvation, and who pay their vows to Thee, the eternal,
living, and true God.
Then putting himself in communion with those blessed members of the
Church triumphant in heaven, he implores them to unite with him in
the sacrifice.
Communicating with, and honoring the memory, in the first
place, of the ever-glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord
and God Jesus Christ; as also of the blessed apostles and
martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas,
James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus,
Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence.
Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all
Thy saints, through whose merits and prayers grant that we may
be always defended by the help of Thy protection. Through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Spreading the hands, in the manner of the ancient sacrifices, over the host
and chalice, he again renews the oblation, saying, while the server
rings the bell to recall the attention of the people :
We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept
this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, and to
dispose our days in Thy peace; preserve us from eternal dam
nation, and number us in the flock of Thine elect. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
497
As the priest closes this prayer, he joins Ms hands, and continues solemnly
signing the oblation with the sign of the cross; imploring the Almighty
to effect the miraculous change which His divine Son instituted and
first performed.
Which oblation do Thou, O God, vouchsafe in all respects
to make in all things (he makes the sign of the cross three
times over the oblation) ^ blessed, •%• approved, ^ ratified, rea
sonable, and acceptable (he makes the sign of the cross once
over the host and once over the chalice), •%• that it may become
AT THE MEMENTO FOR THE LIVING.
AT THE MEMENTO FOB THE DEAD.
to us the >|« body and »J« blood of Thy most beloved Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.
THE CONSECRATION.
The awful moment of the Mass has come. The bread and
wine are to be consecrated in Christ's own words, pronounced
by the priest. "While the angels, in adoring awe, bow around
the altar, the priest performs this most essential part of the
sacrifice, in which the body and blood of Christ are really ex
hibited and presented to God, and Christ is mystically immo
lated. Who the day before He suffered (he takes up the host],
took bread into His holy and venerable hands (raising his eyes
towards heaven), and with His eyes lifted up towards heaven,
498 THE HOLY SACKIFICE OF THE MASS.
to God, His Almighty Father : giving thanks to Thee (he makes
the sign of the cross over the host), did bless, break, and give
to His disciples, saying : Take and eat ye all of this :
Holding the host between his forefingers and thumbs he pronounces the
words of consecration secretly , distinctly, and attentively.
FOE THIS is MY BODY.
Having pronounced the words of consecration, while all the people kneel in
profound and silent adoration, the priest, kneeling, adores the sacred
host: rising, he elevates it, amid the ringing of the bell; and then
placing it on the corporal, again adores it.
After this he never disjoins his forefingers and thumbs, except when he
is to take the host, until the ablution.
In like manner, after He had supped (he takes the chalice in
loth hands), taking also this excellent chalice into His holy and
venerable hands, and giving Thee thanks (holding the chalice in
the left hand, the priest makes the sign of the cross over it with
his right], He bless^ed, and gave to His disciples, saying : Take
and drink ye all of this:
The priest then pronounces the words of consecration over the chalice,
holding it slightly elevated, saying:
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD OF THE NEW AND
ETERNAL TESTAMENT ; THE MYSTERY OF FAITH I WHICH SHALL
BE SHED FOR YOU, AND FOR MANY, TO THE REMISSION OF SINS.
The words of consecration having been pronounced, he places the chalice
on the corporal, and says in secret:
As often as ye do these things, ye shall do them in remem
brance of Me.
Kneeling, he adores ; rising, he elevates the chalice for the adoration of
the faithful while the bell rings thrice again; then the priest replaces
the chalice on the corporal, covers it, and again adoring, proceeds, ex
tending his hands :
"Wherefore, O Lord, we Thy servants, as also Thy holy
people, calling to mind the blessed passion of the same Christ
Thy Son our Lord, His resurrection from hell, and glorious
ascension into heaven, offer unto Thy most excellent Majesty, of
Thy gifts and grants,
Here the priest joins his hands, and makes the sign of the cross three
times over the sacred host and chalice simultaneously.
A pure tj« host, a holy •%• host, an immaculate »J« host.
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
499
He then makes the sign of the cross once over the sacred host and once
over the chalice, saying:
The holy »|« bread of eternal life, and the chalice »J« of ever
lasting salvation.
Then extending his hands, he proceeds :
Upon which vouchsafe to look with a propitious and serene
countenance, and to accept them, as Thou wast graciously pleased
to accept the gifts of Thy just servant Abel and the sacrifice of
AT THE HANC IGITUR.
AT THE ELEVATION OF THE HOST.
our Patriarch Abraham, and that which the high-priest Melchise-
dech offered to Thee, a holy sacrifice, an immaculate host.
Sowing down profoundly, with his hands joined and placed upon the
altar, he says :
We most humbly beseech Thee, Almighty God, command
these things to be carried by the hands of Thy angel to Thy
altar on high, in the sight of Thy divine Majesty, that as many
of us (he kisses the altar) as by participation at this altar shall
receive the most sacred (lie joins his hands and makes the sign
of the cross once over the sacred host and once over the chalice)
•^ body and •%* blood of Thy Son (making the sign of the cross
on himself}^ may be filled with all heavenly *J* benediction and
500 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
grace. (Joining his hands.) Through the same Christ oar
Lord. Amen.
COMMEMOEATION OF THE DEAD.
Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants and handmaids N.
and N.) who are gone before us with the sign of faith, and
slumber in the sleep of peace.
Here he pauses to recommend the souls for whom he especially desires to
pray; and all should do the same, for it is not only his sacrifice, but
theirs.
To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we
beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and peace : through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Here striking his breast and raising his voice slightly :
And to us sinners Thy servants, hoping in the multitude of
Thy mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with
Thy holy apostles and martyrs ; with John, Stephen, Matthias,
Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas,
Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecily, Anastasia, and with all
Thy saints : into whose company we beseech Thee to admit us,
not as a rewarder of our merit, but as a free bestower of pardon.
Through Christ our Lord.
By whom, O Lord, Thou dost always create (the priest makes
the sign of the cross three times over the host and chalice simul
taneously ', saying :) sancti»J«fy, quick^en, bless, »J« and give us
all these good things.
The priest then uncovers the chalice, genuflects ; and taking the sacred
host in his right hand, and holding the chalice with his left, he makes
the sign of the cross three times over the chalice, saying:
Through Him, »|< and with Him, »J« and in Him, >J< is to
Thee, God the •%* Father almighty, in the unity of the Holy »J«
Ghost, all honor and glory.
He here replaces the sacred host upon the corporal, covers the chalice,
and makes a genuflection; and rising again, he says aloud :
P. Forever and ever.
It. Amen.
Let us pray.
Instructed by Thy saving precepts, and following Thy divine
instruction, we presume to say :
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
501
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is UL
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead
us not into temptation.
It. But deliver us from evil.
P. Amen.
The uOur Father" or " Lord's Prayer" is here repeated
because by holy communion we become, in the fullest sense,
AT THE ELEVATION OP THE CHALICE.
AT THE PATER NOSTER.
children of God ; it is moreover truly a daily bread, preserving
us from temptation and evil.
Taking the paten between Ms first and second fingers, the priest says :
Deliver us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all evils, past
and present, and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious
ever Virgin Mary Mother of God, Thy holy apostles (here he
makes the sign of the cross on himself with the paten) Peter and
Paul, and Andrew, and all the saints (kisses the pateri), grant
peace in our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy we
may be always free from sin, and secure from all disturbance.
Sliding the paten under the host, he uncovers the chalice and makes a
genuflection ; and taking the host, breaks it over the chalice, and says:
Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord,
503 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
Placing the part in his right hand on the paten, he breaks a particle from
the other part, and says :
Who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth,
God,
Placing on the paten what remains in his left hand of the sacred host
and holding in his right hand, over the chalice, the particle he has
broken off, he says aloud :
V. World without end.
7?. Amen.
Making the sign of the cross over the chalice with the particle of the
sacred host, he says :
V. May the peace »J« of the Lord be >J« always with »J* you.
R. And with thy spirit.
He then puts the particle of the host into the chalice, saying in a low
voice :
May this mixture and consecration of the body and blood of
Our Lord Jesus Christ be to us that receive it effectual to eter
nal life. Amen.
The breaking of the sacred host into three parts is symbolical
of the violent death of Christ. A part of the consecrated host
is mingled with the precious blood as a sign that Christ is here
present as the risen and transfigured Kedeemer, His body and
blood reunited.
He covers the chalice, makes a genuflection, and then bowing down and
striking his breast three times, he says :
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant
us peace.
[In Masses for the dead the priest says twice, " Give them rest," and
lastly, " Give them eternal rest."]
Then inclining toward the altar with hands joined upo*i it, the priest
says the following prayers :
P. Lord Jesus Christ, Who said to Thy apostles, I leave
you peace, I give you My peace, regard not my sins, but the
faith of Thy Church ; and grant her that peace and unity which
is agreeable to Thy will; Who livest and reignest forever and
ever. Amen.
THE HOLT SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
503
P. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who, accord
ing to the will of Thy Father, hast by Thy death, through the
cooperation of the Holy Ghost, given life to the world, deliver
me by this Thy most sacred body and blood from all my iniqui
ties, and from all evils; and make me always adhere to Thy
commandments, and never suffer me to be separated from Thee ;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, etc. Amen.
Let not, O Lord Jesus Christ, the participation of Thy body,
AT THE DOMINE NON SUM DlGNUS.
AT THE COMMUNION.
which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my
judgment and condemnation ; but, through Thy mercy, may it
be to me a safeguard and remedy, both for soul and body : Who
with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and
reignest God, forever and ever. Amen.
THE COMMUNION.
Making a genuflection, and taking the host in his hands, the priest says :
I will take the bread of heaven, and call upon the name of
the Lord.
Then slightly bending, he takes both parts of the sacred host, and striking
his breast, he says three times, humbly and with devotion, while the
bell is rung thrice :
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my
roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
504 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
Signing himself with the sacred host, he reverently consumes it, saying :
May the body of Our Lord •%• Jesus Christ preserve my soul
to life everlasting. Amen.
He then joins his hands, and bows down in silent meditation and thanks
giving. After which he uncovers the chalice, makes a genuflection,
and collecting on the paten any particles which remain on the corporal,
says :
What shall I render to the Lord for all He hath rendered
unto me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and call upon the
name of the Lord. Praising, I will call upon the Lord, and
shall be saved from my enemies.
Taking the chalice in his right hand, and making the sign of the cross
with it on himself, he says the following prayer :
»J« May the blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul
to everlasting life. Amen.
He then reverently takes the precious blood.
Those who are to communicate go up to the sanctuary at the
Domine, non sum dignus, when the bell rings ; the acolyte or
server spreads a cloth before them, and says the Confiteor.
During the Confiteor the priest removes from the tabernacle of
the altar the ciborium or vessel containing the Blessed Sacra
ment ; and placing it upon the corporal he makes a genuflection.
Turning to the communicants, he pronounces the absolution :
May Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your
sins, and bring you to life everlasting.
R. Amen.
Signing them with the sign of the cross, he continues :
P. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon,
>%* absolution, and remission of your sins.
R. Amen.
Elevating a particle of the Blessed Sacrament, and turning towards the
people, he says :
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who taketh away
the sins of the world.
And then he repeats three times :
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my
roof : say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
505
Descending the steps of the altar to the communicants, he administers the
holy communion, saying to each :
May the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul to
life everlasting. Amen.
Returning to the altar, the priest covers the ciborium and replaces it in
the tabernacle. The acolyte pours a little wine into the chalice, and
the priest takes the first ablution, saying :
Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth
AT THE POST-COMMUNION.
AT THE BLESSING.
we may receive with a pure mind ; and of a temporal gift may
it become to us an eternal remedy.
Here the acolyte, at the epistle corner, pours wine and water into the
chalice, over the priest's fingers, and the priest, returning to the middle
of the altar, wipes his fingers and takes the second ablution, saying :
May Thy body, O Lord, which I have received, and Thy
blood which I have drunk, cleave to my bowels ; and grant that
no stain of sin may remain in me, who have been refreshed with
pure and holy sacraments. Who livest and reign est, world
without end. Amen.
Then he wipes his lips and the chalice, which he covers, and having folded
the corporal, places it on the altar, as at first ; he then goes to the look,
and reads
506 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
THE COMMUNION.
We bless the God of heaven, and we will praise Him in the
sight of all the living : because He hath shown us His mercy.
Then, going to the middle of the altar, he turns to the people, and says :
P. The Lord be with you.
12. And with thy spirit.
Then, returning to the missal, he reads the post-communions ; at the end
of the first and last of which the server answers, "Amen."
FOR THE POST-COMMUNION.
Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the spirit of Thy love, that,
by Thy mercy, Thou mayst make those of one mind whom
Thou hast fed with one celestial food. Through Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the same Holy Spirit, etc.
Graciously hear the prayers of Thy family, O Almighty God,
and grant that these sacred mysteries which we have received
from Thee may by Thy grace be preserved incorrupt within us.
Through Our Lord, etc.
Again turning to the people, he says:
P. The Lord be with you.
J?. And with thy spirit.
P. Go, the Mass is ended.
E. Thanks be to God.
When the GLORIA has been omitted, and when violet is worn, instead of
" Go, the Mass is ended,'1'1 he says :
P. Let us bless the Lord.
E. Thanks be to God.
In Masses for the dead, however, Tie says :
P. May they rest in peace.
1$. Amen.
Bowing down before the altar, the priest recites the following :
Let the performance of my homage be pleasing to Thee, O
Holy Trinity ; and grant that the sacrifice which I, unworthy,
have offered up in the sight of Thy majesty, may be acceptable
THE HOLT SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 507
to Thee, and through Thy mercy be a propitiation for me and
all those for whom I have offered it. Through, etc.
The priest then kisses the altar, and turning to the people, gives the
May Almighty God, •%* the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
bless you.
It. Amen.
Then turning to the gospel side of the altar, he says :
P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
He then makes the sign of the cross, first upon the altar, and then upon
his forehead, lips, and breast, and then reads the Gospel:
P. The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John.
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
In the beginning was the Word, and the "Word was with
God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him
was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the
life was the light of men ; and the light shineth in darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light,
that all men might believe through him. He was not the light,
but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light
which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and
the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own
re reived Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He
gave power to be made the sons of God ; to them that believe in
His name, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. AND THE WOED WAS
MADE FLESH (Here all kneel) and dwelt among us ; and we saw
His glory, as it were the glory of the only-begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
R. Thanks be to God.
508 A METHOD OF HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY.
H /l&etbofc of Ibearfng flDass Spiritually,
WHICH MAY BE USED BY THOSE WHO ARE PREVENTED
FROM GOING TO CHURCH.
A GOOD INTENTION BEFORE MASS.
I BELIEVE, Lord Jesus, that in the Last Supper Thou didst
offer up a true sacrifice ; I believe it because Thou hast
made it known to us through the Catholic Church, which from
the apostles' times has constantly taught it to us. Since Thou
didst command the apostles and the priests ordained bj them,
to do the same till the end of time, I therefore offer to Thee,
with the priest, this holy sacrifice of the Mass (which I believe
to be one with that offered on Mount Calvary), to Thy honor
and glory, in acknowledgment of my most bounden service, in
thanksgiving for the innumerable benefits which Thou hast con
ferred upon me and upon the whole world, in satisfaction for my
sins and the sins of all mankind, and for obtaining the grace of
perfect contrition for my sins. I also offer to Thee this holy
Mass for my friends, benefactors, for those for whom I am
bound, and for whom Thou wiliest me to pray. I also offer it
for my enemies, that they may be converted, for all the faithful
departed, particularly for my parents and relatives, and for the
welfare of all Christendom.
I. HEARTFELT DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE.
Most Holy Trinity, God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
almighty source of all things; my best Father, my merciful
Redeemer, the Fountain of my sanctification and happiness, I,
Thy most unworthy creature, venture to appear before Thee, to
show Thee, my true God and Creator, all honor, adoration, and
trustful submission; to thank Thee for the innumerable benefits
which I have received from Thee ; to praise Thee for Thy glory
(for I am created for Thy praise) ; to implore Thy mercies, and
to appease Thy justice, because I have so often and so grievously
sinned against Thee. All this I cannot do in a worthier and
more perfect manner than by hearing, with faith and devotion,
holy Mass. For in that holy sacrifice is offered to Thee the
most sublime sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, the most effi
cacious sacrifice of supplication and propitiation, the most worthy
A METHOD OF HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY. 509
sacrifice of salvation for the living and the dead. But because I
cannot this day be present bodily at the holy Mass, I will, at
least in spirit, place myself before the altar where Jesus Christ
in an unbloody manner offers Himself, O heavenly Father, to
Thee. With this glorious sacrifice I unite my present prayer;
I fervently desire, united with the Son of God, in the strongest
manner to praise, love, supplicate Thee, O heavenly Father, to
repair all the wrong and shame that I have wrought, and com
pletely to accomplish all that can be accomplished by the holy
sacrifice of the Mass. To this end give me Thy divine grace,
and grant that I may perform all this with sincere devotion.
Amen.
II. CONTRITION FOR SINS, WITH FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN
JESUS CHRIST, AND AN OFFERING OF HIS PRECIOUS MERITS.
Holy Father, I confess with sorrow that I have seldom
served Thee with an undivided heart, but rather have often
offended Thee, and by my slothfulness and neglect have brought
upon myself infinitely great guilt before Thee. I therefore take
refuge in the merits of Thy beloved Son, now present upon the
altar, Who so freely commends and imparts to us His grace and
favor. In the holy sacrifice of the Mass Jesus offers to Thee,
for me, the highest veneration and love, the most perfect praise,
the most hearty thanksgiving, and the most kind expiation. For
the perfect forgiveness of my sins, O heavenly Father, I offer
to Thee the whole suffering and death of Jesus Christ, which
now, in an unbloody manner, is renewed upon the altar. O
most benign Father, Thy Son has suffered and died even for me,
a poor sinner. With thankful love I bring before Thee as a
precious and pleasing offering, the infinite merits of His suffering
and death. I firmly trust that, on account of this inestimable
sacrifice of Thy Son, Thou wilt not regard my guilt, and that
Thou wilt increase in me Thy graces. Amen.
O Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, to Thee I
turn for help and grace. Graciously look upon my misery and
wretchedness, and let my supplications come before Thee. That
I may the more surely be heard by Thee, I appear before the
throne of Thy grace, which for our salvation, is set up in the
holy sacrifice of the Mass, where the innocent Lamb of God is
mysteriously offered up to Thee, holy Father, Almighty God,
510 A METHOD OF HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY.
for the remission of our sins. Regard, I beseech Thee, the
innocence of this holy sacrifice, and for the sake thereof extend
to me Thy mercy. O my Saviour, how great is Thy love for
me which, to make satisfaction for my sins, and to gain me the
grace of Thy Father, impelled Thee to endure for me such bitter
pains, and even death itself. Oh, how great is yet Thy love for
me, which causes Thee, in every holy Mass to renew, in an
unbloody manner, Thy death of propitiation, in order to apply
and communicate to me Thy merits. With my whole heart I
thank Thee for Thy great love, and from the depths of my soul
I beseech Thee to make me a partaker of the fruits of it, and to
strengthen and confirm me by the grace of the Holy Ghost, that
I may detest sin and all unholy living, that I may crucify my
flesh, with all its passions, deny myself, and follow in Thy foot
steps, that all my thoughts and words, all that I do or leave un
done, may be a living service of God, and a sacrifice well pleas
ing to Him.
As Thou hast offered up Thyself to Thy heavenly Father,
so take me also in the arms of Thy love and mercy, and present
me, a poor erring sinner, as an offering to Thy Father, and let
me no more be separated from His love. Amen.
III. ADORATION OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS
CHRIST, UNDER THE APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE.
O most holy Jesus, before Thee the heavenly choirs kneel
and adore ; with them I lift up my voice and cry. Holy, holy,
holy, art Thou, O Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of
Thy grace and glory. Thou art present, O Jesus, under the
appearances of bread and wine. Hear, O hear my prayer. I
strike my breast and confess my un worthiness ; but with firm
confidence I implore Thee, O Jesus, be merciful to me. O
most benign Jesus, forgive me my sins. O holy blood, wash
me from my sins. O precious blood of Jesus, O blood of
Jesus, rich in grace, cry out to Heaven for mercy upon me.
Most holy God, receive this precious blood, together with the
love through which it was shed ; receive it as an offering of my
love and thankfulness, for the greatest glory of Thy name ; for
the forgiveness of my sins ; in satisfaction of the punishments
which I have deserved ; for the washing away of the stains of
my guilt, as reparation for all my neglects, and as amends for
A METHOD OF HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY. 511
all the sins which I have committed through ignorance or frailty ;
receive it also as a sacrifice for the consolation of the afflicted ;
for the conversion of sinners ; for the recovery of the sick and
suffering; for the strengthening of those who draw near to
death; for the refreshment, purification, and deliverance of the
souls of the departed in purgatory. Amen.
IV. UNSHAKEN CONFIDENCE IN JESUS CHRIST.
To Thee, O most benign Jesus, I lift up my eyes and my
heart. Oh, turn upon me Thy gracious countenance, and Thy
true love. Behold, O Lord, my manifest need, and the great
danger of my soul. Oh, receive me, Thou Who art my only
true mediator and helper. Be Thou, through the holy sacrifice
of the Mass, my salvation, and obtain for me the entire remis
sion of my sins. Oh, represent to Thy Father how cruelly Thou
wast scourged, crowned, crucified, and put to death for us, and
thereby reconcile with the strict justice of God me, a miserable
sinner. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. HE WHO ASKS IN THE NAME OF JESUS SHALL RECEIVE.
O Lamb of God, Who suffered for us miserable sinners, have
mercy upon me, and offer up to the Father Thy passion for the
forgiveness of my sins. O Lamb of God, Who died for us mis
erable sinners, have mercy upon me, and offer up to God Thy
death in satisfaction for my sins! O Lamb of God, Who didst
sacrifice Thyself for us miserable sinners, have mercy upon me,
and offer up Thy holy blood to the Father for the cleansing of
my soul.
Heavenly Father, I offer to Thee this precious and most
worthy oblation. My sins are more in number than the hairs
of my head, but, O just and merciful God, lay this precious
offering in the one scale and my sins in the other, and that will
far outweigh my guilt. O merciful, O holy God, give me Thy
blessing before I end my prayer, and through this blessing let
me obtain grace at once to begin to amend my life, and to re
nounce whatever is sinful and displeasing to thee. Support me
in my weakness ; strengthen me when temptations assail me, and
let me never forget that Thou art near me.
O precious day ! but perhaps the last of my life. O happy
512 A METHOD OF HEARING MASS FOR THOSE WHO UNITE
day ! if it shall make me better. Holy Mother of God, Mary,
holy angels and friends of God, pray for me and lead me in the
way of truth. O God, grant Thy love to the living, and Thy
peace to the dead. Amen.
H dDetbofc of 1bearing flDass
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO UNITE THEIR PRAYERS WITH THOSE
OF THE PRIEST.
PRAYER BEFORE MASS.
-INTERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thee the sacrifice which Jesus
-C^ Christ, Thy beloved Son, offered to Thee by the oblation
of Himself upon the cross, and which He is now about to renew
upon the altar. I offer it to Thee as a just tribute of adoration
and praise, in thanksgiving for the innumerable benefits Thou
dost bestow on me, to propitiate Thy justice, which I have out
raged, to make due atonement for my sins, to plead for myself,
for holy Church, for all mankind, and for the souls of the just
suffering in purgatory.
AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MASS.
How can I venture, O my God, to appear before Thy face,
and take part in the sublime and spotless sacrifice which is soon
to be offered to Thy divine majesty? I am but duet and ashes,
a poor and miserable mortal. Nay, more, I have often and
grievously offended against Thee, the infinite God ; my soul is
burdened with many sins and stained with guilt. But if in Thy
justice Thou art angry with me, I take refuge in Thy merciful
loving-kindness, trusting that for the sake of Jesus Christ, our
Lord, my sinful soul can and shall be cleansed in His precious
blood. Behold me prostrate before Thee, in deep compunction
for my sins, because I have thereby offended against Thee, Who
art my strict judge, and also my loving Father, my greatest
benefactor, the highest good, most perfect, most worthy of my
love. I confess before Thee, O infinite and eternal God, and
before the whole company of heaven, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the glorious archangel Michael, blessed John the Baptist,
the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the angels and saints,
that I have sinned through my fault, my grievous fault ; but I
beseech Thee to pardon me for Christ's sake, through the inter-
THEIR PRAYERS WITH THOSE OF THE PRIEST. 513
cession of the Blessed Yirgin Mary and all the angels and saints
of heaven, that with a joyful heart I may offer to Thee this
holy sacrifice in union with the priest. I am fully resolved
never again to offend against Thee, but, with the assistance of
Thy grace, to serve Thee faithfully unto my life's end.
JOIN WITH THE PRIEST IN RECITING THREE TIMES I
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
AT THE GLORIA.
Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to rnen
of good will. "With all the angelic choirs we praise Thee, we
adore Thee for Thy great glory and majesty. We bless Thee,
we thank Thee, Eternal Father, for the decree of Thy mercy
and charity, whereby Thou hast given Thy only-begotten Son
for our salvation. We bless Thee, we thank Thee, O Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Saviour, for Thy infinite conde
scension in becoming man for us, in suffering and dying for us,
and now renewing upon the altar the mystery of our redemption.
We bless Thee, we thank Thee, O life-giving Spirit, for the
plenteousness of grace wherewith, for the sake of Christ's merits,
Thou dost live and operate in the holy Catholic Church, and in
all her faithful children. Manifest in our souls the power of
Thy grace ; cleanse and sanctify them, that they may form a
diadem of glory for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; that
we may honor Him to all eternity, and in His presence praise
and magnify God with all angels and saints in the courts of
heaven. Ainen.
AT THE COLLECTS.
Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast given to Thy
servants, in the confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the
glory of the eternal Trinity, and to adore the unity in the power
of Thy majesty : grant that by steadfastness in this faith we may
ever be defended from all adversities. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Who wert subject to Mary and Joseph,
and by Thy sublime virtues didst sanctify family life, grant that,
by the intercession of the parents who watched over Thee, we
514 A METHOD OF HEARING MASS FOR THOSE WHO UNITE
may be imitators of the Holy Trinity on earth and be admitted
to their blessed company in heaven. Who livest and reignest
forever and ever. Amen.
FOR THE EPISTLE. (CoL. ill. 12-17.)
Brethren: Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy
and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty,
patience : bearing with one another, and forgiving one another,
if any have a complaint against another ; even as the Lord hath
forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have
charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of
Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one
body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you abundantly, in all wisdom. Teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in
grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do, in word
or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving
thanks to God and the Father by Him.
AT THE GOSPEL.
Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. To whom shall we
go : Thou hast the words of eternal life. Purify, O Lord, my
heart ; enlighten my understanding, animate my will, that Thy
divine word may be to me a seed which shall strike root, spring
up, and bear fruit a hundredfold, — the fruit of virtue and holi
ness — to Thy glory and my eternal salvation.
(Luke ii. 42-52.) When Jesus was twelve years old,
they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the
feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the
child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents knew it not.
And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day's
journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking
Him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found
Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing
them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him
were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing
Him, they wondered. And His Mother said to Him : Son,
why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have
sought Thee Borrowing. And He said to them : How is it that
THEIR PRAYERS WITH THOSE OF THE PRIEST. 515
you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My
Father's business? And they understood not the word that He
spoke unto them. And He went down with them, and came to
Nazareth, and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all
these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and
age, and grace with God and men.
AT THE CREDO.
When the Creed is read, repeat it silently, with reverence
and faith.
AT THE OFFERTORY.
Accept, O Lord, this offering of bread and wine, which we
make to Thee by the hands of Thy priest. It will soon be
changed, as Thy well-beloved Son has ordained, into His true
flesh and blood, and so it becomes a real sacrifice, the only sacri
fice worthy to be offered to Thy divine majesty. Grant that
' these gifts as coming from us may find acceptance in Thy sight ;
grant that they may avail to wipe out our countless sins and
shortcomings, that they may ascend as an odor of sweetness to
the throne of Thy grace, and may thence descend in a copious
shower of blessings for our health and salvation, and that of the
whole world.
With this oblation we lay our heart and our whole self upon
the altar in union with Thy beloved Son. Purify us, sanctify
us, dispose of us and of all we have according to Thy good
pleasure. From Thy divine hand we will take whatever Thy
wise providence shall appoint : toil and weariness, trial and sor
row, sickness and death, for we know that Thou dost guide and
direct all things for our greater good and our eternal welfare,
and dost only afflict and chastise us for our ultimate advantage.
Give us patience and pious resignation to Thy holy will, and the
grace to persevere unto the end in the way of Thy command
ments.
In this solemn moment we will put far from us all earthly
thoughts and desires, and ascend in spirit to heaven, and there
take our stand among the blessed company of angels and saints
by whom, and for whom, this sacrifice of praise is offered to
Thee, O Lord, in thanksgiving for all the favors Thou hast be
stowed on them, for the merits they have gained, the heroic acts
51G A METHOD OF HEARING MASS FOR THOSE WHO UNITE
of virtue they have performed through the help of Thy grace,
for the unspeakable glory and felicity which Thou hast given to
them as their portion forever. May all these happy denizens of
heaven, especially the one whose memory the Church celebrates
to-day, or whose relics repose upon this altar, vouchsafe to inter
cede for us before Thy throne, that what we do to their honor
may avail for our profit and salvation.
AT THE PREFACE.
With recollection of mind we lift up our hearts to Thee, O
Lord^ and render thanks anew to Thy divine majesty. For it is
meet and just, right and salutary, that we should always and in
all places give thanks to Thee. There is no time, no place,
wherein we are not recipients of Thy bounteous gifts; there is
no time, no place, wherein Thou, O merciful Father, dost not
look upon us, ready to pour out upon us the riches of Thy grace,
desirous to make us partakers in the infinite treasure of the merits
of Thy Son. May we ever have a lively sense of Thy watchful
care over us, of Thy ever-present majesty, for in Thee we live,
and move, and are. May we never grow weary of Thy praise
here on earth, and hereafter may we continue to laud arid mag
nify Thee with the blessed company of heaven, who cease not to
cry: u Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth
are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he
that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."
AT THE CANON.
The nearer the solemn moment approaches, my God, when
Thy only-begotten Son in His divinity and humanity becomes
present upon this altar under the form of bread and wine, the
deeper is the awe and reverence I feel. Following the example
of the priest, I enter into myself, and in silent supplication lay
before Thee my desires and my necessities.
By the infinite merits of this Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
we beseech Thee, O merciful Father, look down upon Thy holy
Church, protect her, extend her, govern her; bless and guide
her visible head, our holy Father the Pope, our prelate, and all
her faithful children. Have mercy upon all our parents and
friends, all for whom it is our desire or our duty to pray, espe
cially [N N."\ Keep all evil far from us, preserve us all that is
THEIR PRAYERS WITH THOSE OF THE PRIEST. 517
good, and, above all, grant to us Thy blessing and Thy love, and
grace to persevere unto the end.
Be mindful, O Lord, of the bitter sufferings and death of Thy
Son, our Lord, of the merits and virtues of the Blessed Virgin,
of the holy apostles and martyrs and other saints, who during
their earthly pilgrimage served Thee faithfully and found favor
in Thy sight. All these, our brethren in glory, now plead on
our behalf. Grant that by their intercession and the power of
Christ's blood we may be delivered from eternal damnation and
admitted to the company of the elect in heaven. The same Sav
iour Who redeemed them and purchased for them everlasting
felicity shed His blood for us also. The sacrifice of atonement
once offered on Calvary is now about to be renewed in an
unbloody manner upon the altar in our sight. Look down, O
heavenly Father, upon the face of Thy Christ, upon His wounds
and precious blood, and grant us help in time of need.
AT THE CONSECRATION.
At the elevation of the host : Jesus, to Thee I live ; to Thee
I die. Jesus, in life and in death I am Thine.
At the elevation of the chalice : Jesus, have pity upon me ;
Jesus, be merciful to me. Jesus, grant me forgiveness of sin,
and bring me to life eternal.
AFTER THE CONSECRATION.
And now, my God, in accordance with His own command,
we call to mind the bitter passion, the glorious resurrection and
ascension, of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord; we present
Him to Thee, as the victim of the New Testament, veiled under
the lowly form of bread and wine. Vouchsafe to look upon it
propitiously, and for the sake of this sublime sacrifice look also
upon us, Thy unworthy children, and accept our gift, as Thou
wert graciously pleased to accept the sacrifice of Thy just servant
Abel, of the faithful patriarch Abraham, and of Melchisedech,
the high priest.
We humbly beseech Thee that, together with this holy sacri
fice, our hearts may be lifted up to Thy throne on high ; admit
them, with Thy beloved Son, to Thy paternal love ; grant that
we may be filled with all heavenly benediction, for the sake of
518 A METHOD OF HEARING MASS FOR THOSE WHO UNITE
Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has made us to be His brethren,
and members of His mystical body.
Be mindful also, O Lord, of the souls of those who have gone
before us with the sign of faith, and who sleep the sleep of peace.
To these and to all that rest in Christ grant for His sake refresh
ment, light, and eternal rest.
And to us sinners, Thy servants, grant in the time to come,
through the intercession of Thy holy martyrs and saints, some
share in their felicity, not considering our merits, but pardoning
us according to Thy mercy and clemency. Through Christ, and
with Him, may we praise and glorify Thee in time and in eter
nity. Following His divine command and precept, we venture
to approach Thee with filial confidence, and say: " Our Father,5'
etc.
AT THE AGNUS DEI.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant
us peace.
BEFORE COMMUNION.
(If you do not intend to receive holy communion endeavor to awaken with
in your heart the desire to receive it as soon and as worthily as possible, and
ask this grace of God. )
My God and my Redeemer, Thou hast enjoined upon us,
under pain of eternal perdition, to receive the adorable sacra
ment of Thy body and blood, saying: "Except you eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you shall not have
life in you." But Thou hast also taught us by the mouth of
Thy apostle: "Whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the
chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
of the blood of the Lord. . . . He eatetli and drinketh judg
ment to himself." Never, O my Saviour, let me so far forget
the debt of love I owe Thee as to incur the guilt of profaning
the adorable sacrament of Thy love. Grant me grace to ap
proach this heavenly banquet of Thy body and blood with a
heart purified by confession and penance, so that I may worthily
METHOD OF HEARING MASS. 519
participate in the rich fruits of grace and sanctity of which it is
the source.
AT THE COMMUNION OF THE PRIEST.
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my
roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed. (Three
times.)
Since, O my Saviour, I cannot actually receive Thee as the
food of my soul in the Adorable Sacrament, I will at least com
municate spiritually, and thus gain some measure of profit.
Prostrate before Thee in spirit, I declare my firm and stead
fast belief that Thou art really and actually here present in the
Most Holy Sacrament under the form of bread — present in Thy
flesh and blood, Thy body and soul, Thy divinity and humanity,
living, glorified, immortal. I believe this because Thou hast
said it, and Thou, the Eternal Truth, hast commanded us to be
lieve it.
Who am I that I should venture to draw nigh to Thee? I
am poor and weak, a wretched sinner who has often offended
against Thee, the infinite God. Thou hast done all that Thy
omnipotence, Thy wisdom, Thy love could devise to load me
with benefits, and I have returned them with ingratitude. But
now from the bottom of my heart I repent of my base unthank-
fulness and many sins, because they have displeased Thee, my
merciful Father, Who art the Supreme Good, beautiful in Thy
perfection. I love Thee, O my God, I love Thee above all ; I
will never forsake Thy love, nor offend against Thee again.
Would that I could now clinch my resolution by receiving
the sacrament of Thy love. I long for the blissful moment
when I shall be permitted to receive Thee. But now at least
let me approach in spirit to kiss the sacred wounds Thou didst
receive for my sake ; in spirit hide myself in Thy pierced side,
Thy divine heart, that I may live not only by what Thou hast
done for me, but may live with Thee and for Thee, as Thy
child, Thy brother, as a member of that mystical body of
which Thou art the head. Thy infinite goodness and power,
Thy gracious invitation, Thy unfailing promise, encourage me
to hope that Thou wilt not despise Thy poor suppliant, but wilt
receive me in mercy, and enrich me with Thy grace and Thy
love.
520 METHOD OF HEARING MASS.
PRAYER AFTER THE COMMUNION OF THE PRIEST.
We humbly beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that we, whom
Thou hast called to the participation of the heavenly banquet of
Thy body and blood, may by Thee be fashioned after Thy divine
heart, that we may be made meek and humble of heart, and
learn to abhor the vain frivolities of the world.
Grant, O Lord, that the effect of this Most Holy Sacrament
may so operate in our soul and our body that in all our actions
we may no longer follow the natural impulses of our heart, but
may in all things obey the inspirations of Thy grace, and ever
give thanks to Thee for this celestial gift. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, etc. Amen.
AT THE ITE, MISSA EST, AND THE BLESSING.
0 Holy Trinity, may this sacrifice be pleasing to Thee.
Look not upon my unworthiness, but upon the merits of Christ,
and make us through Him to find mercy and forgiveness. May
God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless
us and all whom we love. Amen.
AT THE LAST GOSPEL AND THE CONCLUSION OF MASS.
1 give Thee thanks, Eternal Father, that Thou hast per
mitted me to assist once more at this sublime sacrifice, enabling
me thereby to pay the homage that is meet to Thy infinite
majesty, to render Thee adequate thanks for the countless bene
fits Thou hast bestowed on me, and to offer Thee abundant sat
isfaction for my manifold sins, as well as for the transgressions
of the whole world. It is only through Thy grace and bounty
that I have been capable of doing this ; and for this I offer Thee
my heartfelt thanks. I thank Thee also for all the gifts and
graces which, in virtue of this holy sacrifice of the Mass, Thou
hast bestowed and will yet bestow upon me for the profit of my
soul, and for all the benefits Thou hast conferred upon others in
answer to my prayers. Forgive the wandering thoughts, the
inattention of which I have been guilty during the celebration
of the holy mysteries. And I ask of Thee this one grace : May
we never fall away from Thy love, but increase in it more and
more, and frequently unite ourselves in all we do or suffer to
the intentions of Thy only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
MOBBING DEVOTIONS. 521
Morning Devotions.
"The wise man will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made
him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High."— Ecclus. xxxix. 6.
A s soon as you awake, think that jour guardian angel has
awakened you, and that God has given you the day to
work out your salvation. Kemember that this day may be the
last of your. life, that in it you may practise virtue with the
more zeal. Do every day what you wish to have done at the
hour of your death.
Say, at rising :
I rise in the name of God •%* the Father, Who has created
me, »I« the Son, Who has redeemed me, »|« the Holy Ghost, Who
has sanctified me. May the Blessed Trinity preserve me from
all dangers of soul and body.
While dressing :
O Lord, give me the garment of love, the arms of justice ;
gird my loins with truth; put on me the helmet of salvation,
give me the sword of the spirit, which is Thy divine word;
protect me with the shield of faith, with which I may repel the
arrows of the enemy. Oh, that I might, like the elect of God,
be invested with mercy, benignity, humility, patience, and all
other virtues.
AN ACT OF ADOKATION.
0 most holy and undivided Trinity, eternal Lord and God,
I believe that Thou art here really present, and dost penetrate
the inmost recesses of my heart. I adore Thee with the pro-
foundest veneration. I unite my prayers with the praises of the
angels and saints in heaven, and with those of Thy faithful ser
vants on earth, who in this morning hour offer up their devo
tions to Thee. I love Thee with my whole heart, and above all
things.
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING.
1 heartily thank Thee, most gracious God, for all the benefits
which Thou hast conferred upon me : that Thou hast created me,
redeemed me with Thy most precious blood, sanctified me
through holy Baptism, called me to Thy holy religion, and par-
522 MOUSING DEVOTIONS.
ticularly that Thou hast preserved me during the night past. \
also give thanks to Thee in behalf of those who fail to acknowl
edge the mercy of another day.
AN ACT OF CONTEITION.
Alas, when I look back, I confess with confusion! I re
proach myself with many sins and omissions. I acknowledge
my ingratitude and most heartily repent of it. Forgive me, O
Lord, the bad thoughts by which, whether sleeping or waking,
I have during the past night defiled my conscience and offended
Thee. My God, deal with me according to Thy goodness and
mercy, in which I hope.
AN ACT OF OBLATION.
O Lord, our Maker, Who hast created all things for Thyself,
I offer up to Thy infinite good pleasure whatever I shall this day
think, speak, do, or suffer, every pulsation and breathing, every
inner and outer act of mine, in the name of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, in union with the thoughts of His most sacred Heart,
and with the intentions which have ever been made by the
Blessed Yirgin Mary, and all pious souls, in order to praise and
glorify Thee, the fountain of all goodness, to lay down a satis
faction for my sins before the judgment-seat of Thy justice, to
implore Thy mercy for all living and for the dead. To Thee, 0
King of Glory, I devote all my labors.
PETITION AND COMMENDATION TO GOD.
From Thee, O Lord, proceed all good counsels and just
works ; assist me always with Thy grace, that I may begin, con
tinue, and end all my works in Thee. Give me wisdom to speak
what is right and pleasing to Thee, and wisdom to keep silence
where silence is better than speech. Give me courage to suffer
whatever thou orderest for my good. Cause Thyself, O Lord,
to be devoutly served in all Christian lands, that in all govern
ments good laws may be made, in all families useful works may
be done, that by all this day may be sanctified and directed to the
glory of Thy name. Bless my friends and enemies ; let no one
this day perish, either temporally or spiritually. In particu
lar, be gracious to the authorities whom Thou hast set over us
for our protection. Let them live in Thy fear and govern
MORNING DEVOTIONS. 523
according to Thy will, that justice may be promoted and malice
prevented. Guide those who travel ; provide for the poor ; to
those who desire to live by their labor grant the rewards of their
industry. Give me a heart compassionate towards the poor and
suffering ; heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, uphold the weary,
preserve us all in health and happiness, and grant perpetual
peace to the faithful departed, particularly to those who died
during the night past. Finally, O Creator of all, have mercy on
all that Thou hast made.
I place myself, O Jesus, in Thy most sacred wounds, par
ticularly in Thy most sacred Heart. Teach me to be like Thee,
humble, meek, and patient. Grant that I may daily take up
my cross, deny myself, and follow Thee.
TO MARY.
O my advocate and most holy Mother of God, Mary, I com
mend myself to thy special patronage and protection; to thy
compassion I commit my soul and body, my life, and the end
of my life. Show that thou art indeed a mother, and let me
not die without thy maternal blessing.
TO OTJR GUARDIAN ANGEL.
Angel of the Lord, and protector of my soul, to whom God
has committed me, guard me this day in all my ways, against
all my enemies, visible and invisible, enlighten, direct, and
govern me.
TO OUR PATRON SAINTS.
O St. Joseph, St. Ann, ye holy apostles St. Peter and St.
Paul, St. jV., and all ye holy patrons, pray for me, that I
may not fall into any sin, that I may imitate your virtues, love
my neighbor as myself, and daily become more pleasing to God,
until by a happy death I shall, under your protection, pass into
your society, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen.
(Reflect here what you have to do during the day ; consider
the obligations you have to fulfil ; think of the faults you have
committed at other times, of the dangers and occasions of sin to
which you maybe exposed, and resolve to guard against them.)
524 MORNING DEVOTIONS.
A GOOD INTENTION.
0 God, Whose will it is, that whether we eat or drink, or
whatever we do, we should do all in the name of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, I could wish for myself thousands of the most perfect
hearts, with which this day to offer up to Thee, O heavenly
Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy only-begotten Son, our Re
deemer, whatever I shall think, say, do, or suffer, as an offer
ing of worship and adoration due to Thy majesty ; of thanks
giving for so many graces and benefits ; of prayer for the gifts
and assistances that we need ; of propitiation for my sins and
omissions, in union with the works and merits of Jesus Christ,
and I desire that such might be the intention of all men.
THE THREE DIVINE VIRTUES.
An Act of Faith.
Almighty, eternal God, before Thy face I prostrate myself
before Thee in the depth of my nothingness, and with all saints
and angels adore Thee, full of humility and veneration. I be
lieve that Thou art one God, threefold in person — Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost ; that Thou rewardest the good and punishest
the bad. I believe that the second person in the Godhead,
Jesus Christ, for our sakes became man, suffered, died, rose
from the dead, ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right
hand of the Father Almighty, is also truly and substantially
present in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and one
day shall come to judge the living and the dead. All this, and
whatever the Catholic Church proposes to be believed, I firmly
believe, because Thou hast revealed it, O God, Who art the
Eternal Truth, Who can neither deceive, nor be deceived. In
this holy faith I will live and die.
Act of Hope.
1 hope, O my God, through the merits of Jesus Christ and
by my cooperation therewith to obtain from Thee the forgive
ness of all my sins, the graces necessary to lead a Christian life,
and to serve Thee diligently, and to gain finally, after this life,
everlasting happiness; because Thou hast promised this, Who
art infinitely powerful, benign, and faithful, Who art able to
keep Thy word, Who desirest to keep it, and Who wilt keep it.
MORNING DEVOTIONS. 525
Act of Charity.
I love Thee, O my God, with all my heart, all my soul,
all my strength ; I love Thee as my Creator, my Redeemer, iny
Sanctifier, the author of my happiness, my greatest benefactor ;
but yet I love Thee more because Thou art the Supreme Good,
infinitely worthy of all love. For love of Thee, I love my
neighbor as myself, even my enemies and persecutors, because
Thou commandest me to love them. For love of Thee, I also
repent of all my sins, I hate and detest them, not out of fear of
punishment, but because thereby I have offended Thee, O Su
preme Good ! In Thy love, O my God, will I live, and in Thy
love I long with ardor to die.
THE LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
(An indulgence of 300 days, once a day.)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Jesus, brightness of the eternal light,
Jesus, king of glory,
Jesus, the sun of justice,
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Jesus, amiable,
Jesus, admirable,
Jesus, the powerful God,
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Jesus, angel of the great council,
Jesus, most powerful,
Jesus, most patient,
Jesus, most obedient,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
526 MORNING DEVOTIONS.
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Jesus, lover of us,
Jesus, God of peace,
Jesus, author of life,
Jesus, model of all virtues,
Jesus, zealous for souls,
Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our refuge,
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Jesus, good shepherd,
Jesus, true light,
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Jesus, infinite goodness,
Jesus, our way and our life,
Jesus, joy of angels,
Jesus, king of the patriarchs,
Jesus, master of the apostles,
Jesus, teacher of the evangelists,
Jesus, strength of martyrs,
Jesus, light of confessors,
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Jesus, crown of all saints,
Be merciful, spare us, 0 Jesus !
Be merciful, graciously hear us, 0 Jesus !
From all evil, deliver us, 0 Jesus !
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of fornication,
From eternal death,
From the neglect of Thy inspirations,
By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation,
By Thy nativity,
By Thy infancy,
By Thy most divine life,
By Thy labors,
By Thy agony and passion,
By Thy cross and dereliction,
By Thy languors,
MORNING DEVOTIONS. 52'
• I
By Thy death and burial,
By Thy resurrection,
By Thy ascension,
By Thy joys,
By Thy glory,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us,
O Jesus !
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, gra
ciously hear us, 0 Jesus!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us, O Jesus !
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast said, " Ask, and ye shall
receive ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you;" mercifully attend to our supplications and grant us
the gift of Thy divine charity, that we may ever love Thee with
our whole hearts, and never desist from Thy praise.
Give us, O Lord, a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy
name, for Thou never ceasest to direct and govern by Thy
grace those whom Thou instructest in the solidity of Thy love ;
Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
PRAYERS TO BE SAID IN A STORM.
F. From lightning, hail, and destroying tempest,
E. Keep us, O Lord Jesus Christ.
V. Show us Thy mercy, O Lord,
E. And grant us Thy salvation.
F. Lord, hear our prayer,
E. And let our cry come unto Thee.
F. The Lord be with you,
E. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously avert from this house
all hostile power of evil spirits and all injury from the tempests
which gather in the air. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and merciful God, through the intercession of the
528 EVENING DEVOTIONS.
holy Mother of God, Mary, and of the holy angels, patriarchs,
prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, widows, and all
saints, extend to us, we beseech Thee, Thy continual protection ;
make the storm to cease, and the angry elements to give forth a
blessing from heaven upon us unworthy ; preserve from all the
dangers with which their destroying power threatens us, our
dwellings, and the fruits of the earth: Through Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, our Lord.
Blessing.
V. Blessed be the name of the Lord,
R. Henceforth world without end.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord,
It. Who made heaven and earth.
The blessing of Almighty God the *|* Father, the *|« Son,
and the »J« Holy Ghost, descend upon us, our dwellings, and the
fruits of the earth, and remain with us always. Amen.
Evening H>ex>otfons*
IN the Old Law God commanded that a sacrifice should be
offered up to Him at evening as well as at morning, to teach
us that we should begin and end every day with Him. Gentle
sleep is the balm of our nature ; but you will never sleep more
quietly than when you go to rest like a Christian, and lay your
self down in the peace you find in God.
GIVE THANKS TO GOD.
O God, Whose most holy presence I acknowledge and with
all submissiveness adore ; O God most gracious, Who with such
fatherly kindness hast preserved me and renewed to me this day
so many graces, how shall I repay Thee for so many benefits?
Thy saints shall praise and bless Thee therefor. Jesus, I kiss
the holy wound of Thy right hand, and give thanks to Thee, in
union with the thanks which Thou, when on earth, didst pay to
Thy Father. ' ( Praise the Lord, O my soul, for He is good, and
His mercy endureth forever" (Ps. cxxxv. 1).
PRAY FOB LIGHT, THAT YOU MAY KNOW YOUR SINS.
But, O Lord, how can my thanks please Thee when I have
this day sinned so often before Thee, to Whom all things are
EVENING DEVOTIONS. 529
open a ad known. By the wound of Thy left hand, I pray
Thee, O Jesus, Who art the true light that enlighteneth every
man, to enlighten me by Thy Holy Spirit that I may know
wherein I have erred. I will now in bitterness of soul examine
all my actions of this day.
(Here examine your conscience, whether you have sinned by
wilful distraction in prayer, reading, meditation, at Mass, at
sermon, at confession, or communion, or by irreverent behavior
in church. Think whether you have resisted the grace and
inspirations of God; whether you have sinned by cursing and
swearing, or by want of confidence in God. Examine yourself,
whether you have offended God by rash judgment against your
neighbor, or by despising him; by hatred, envy, anger, strife,
revenge, calumny, slander, mockery, false accusation, injustice,
bad example, disobedience, unfaithfulness. Ask yourself before
the all-knowing and holy God, whether you have sinned, by
pride, by vain fear and human respect, by lies, by thoughts,
desires, words, or deeds opposed to purity, with others or by
yourself; by sinful thoughts and wishes of other kinds, by in
temperance, by slothfulness in the performance of your duties ;
by misuse of time, by sinful pleasures or useless occupations;
how you have conducted yourself at home, at church, at table,
in the street, in your intercourse with others, and whether you
have made yourself guilty of the sins of others. But particularly,
direct your attention to your habitual sins. Examine carefully
what causes you to fall into them so frequently. Have a firm
purpose to be on your guard against them the following day;
impose upon yourself a penance proportioned to your sins and
faults, and pray God to strengthen you in your resolution, with
His grace.)
MAKE AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
Father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt — my great guilt.
I am ashamed at the sight of my faults and imperfections ; I am
heartily sorry for, and detest all my past sins, not because I have
thereby lost all that is temporal and all that is eternal, but
because I have thereby so often and so grievously offended
Thee, my Lord and my God, my supreme and eternal Good,
Whom I love above all things, and desire to love forever. O
Jesus, Who hast so loved me that for me Thou didst offer up Thy
530 EVENING DEVOTIONS.
life, I beseech Thee by the holy blood which flowed from Thy
right foot, forgive me all my sins. Cleanse me from all the
stains which defile my soul — Thy image — before Thy strict judg
ment shall visit me with punishment. With the penitent David
I cry out, " Have mercy on me, O Lord, have mercy on me."
MAKE A BESOLUTION TO AMEND YOUR LIFE.
By the blood which flowed from the wound of Thy left
foot, O Jesus, I beseech of Thee the grace that, as I now ear
nestly purpose, I may shun every sin, and seek out and make use
of every means of amendment. O God, Who givest grace to
undertake what is good, give grace also to accomplish the same
until the day of Jesus Christ.
COMMENDATION AND PETITION.
I hide myself, O Jesus, in the wound of Thy holy side, and
by the blood and water which at the piercing of the spear
flowed therefrom, I beseech Thee to receive me under Thy
almighty protection. According to Thy great mercy, spare all
who this day offend Thee. Have patience with those children
of darkness who shall abuse this night to manifold evil. Let
not drunkards die in their sin. Grant that all who are this day
at variance may not suffer the sun to go down upon their anger.
Strengthen those who must lie down in hunger. Have mercy
upon those who this night lie sleepless through care or sickness,
and upon those who draw near to death ; deliver them in their
necessity, relieve their pain, watch over the sick, and cause
them, through faith in Thee, to partake of Thy holy consolation.
Have care of all travellers, for all in authority over us, preserve
the innocent from temptation, and protect our whole commu
nity from every harm and misfortune. Bless me and all that
belong to me, my relatives, benefactors, friends, and enemies,
bless all men. Let the suffering souls in purgatory experience
the effects of Thy blessing; bring them out of their pain into
everlasting rest and heavenly joys.
Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God, etc.
EVENING DEVOTIONS. 531
THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
(An indulgence of 200 days, each time.)
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Kedeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
532 EVENING DEVOTIONS.
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us,
0 Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously
hear us, 0 Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us/
V. May the divine assistance always remain with us.
JR. Amen.
F And may the souls of the faithful departed, through
the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
JUST BEFORE GOING TO BED.
Grant, O Lord, Thy blessing to this house and to this place
in which I am, that I and all that belong to me may rest in Thy
peace. Suffer me to spend this night in Thy love unstained by
any sin, that if Thou shouldst call me before Thee, I may die
in Thy grace, and in this grace awake to Thee. Crucified
Jesus ! let me rest in Thy most sacred arms. I unite my sleep
with Thine, and in that love with which Thou didst give rest to
Thy most holy manhood upon earth. I also lay my body down
to rest that I may to-morrow the better serve Thee. As often
FAMILY PKAYEKS. 533
as I shall draw my breath, as often as my pulse shall beat this
night, so often shall my heart cry to Thee, " My Lord and my
God! I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above
all things. I am heartily sorry for my sins, and detest every
thing that displeases Thee. To Thy infinite mercy I commit
my body and soul."
O Mary, before, and at, and after the birth of thy Son, ever
most pure virgin, for defence against all the assaults of Satan I
intrust my body and my soul to thy love and intercession.
Thou art my mother, be near thy foster-child.
Angel of the Lord ! who hast thus far led me so faithfully,
and guarded me against so many dangers, defend me from
every danger of body and soul.
My holy patrons, and all ye elect of God, give continual
praise and honor to God this night for me ; pray for me that
I may sleep this night free from all unclean imaginations, and
from every sin, unharmed and undisturbed by all attacks of
enemies.
(Here sprinkle yourself with holy water, undress yourself
with modesty, say one Our Father for all who shall die this
night. Perhaps in so doing you may be praying the last time
for yourself. At getting into bed make the sign of the cross,
and say : " In the name of my crucified Jesus I lay me down ;
may He bless, preserve, and bring me to life everlasting."
Compose yourself then to sleep ; but if sleep will not come to
you, think upon death, and that trying hour when the crucifix
will be pressed into your hand and the door opened for you into
eternity.)
praters,
(TO BE SAID IN COMMON.)
All. In the name of the »J« Father, and of the »}• Son, and
of the »!« Holy Ghost. Amen.
The head of the family, or Leader. O Most Holy Trinity,
our most gracious God and Father, our Creator, Redeemer, and
Sanctifier, we praise, honor, and adore Thee, we bless Thee and
give thanks to Thee for all the graces and benefits which we have
this day received anew from Thy divine bounty. Glory be to
534 FAMILY PRATERS.
God the Father, Who hath created us. Glory be to God the Son.
Who hath redeemed us. Glory be to God the Holy Ghost, Who
hath sanctified us.
All. Glory be to the most adorable Trinity, forever and
ever.
Leader. O eternal God and Lord, we confess with shame and
sorrow that we have grieved and offended Thee, our Supreme
God, in thought, word, and deed, and sinned, O Most Holy, be
fore Thee. For all this we are truly sorry, and from the
bottom of our hearts repent. O most compassionate Father, in
reparation for our manifold sins, we offer Thee the love, fidelity,
obedience, humility, purity, and all the pleasing virtues of Thy
only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ ; we offer
Thee His fervent prayers, His holy vigils, and His bitter passion
and death. For the sake of these most holy merits, be gracious
unto us, O God, and forgive us our sins.
All. Be gracious unto us, O God, and forgive us our sins.
Leader. Under Thy holy protection, O Lord, let us enjoy the
rest which Thou hast ordained for the refreshment of the body.
Let Thy holy angels defend us from all the powers of darkness
and all the dangers of the night. Let Thy holy light pour its
rays into our souls, that we sleep not in eternal death, and let Thy
divine grace repel from us all evil.
All. In Thy holy peace let us sleep and take our rest, O Lord
our God.
Leader. Have mercy, also, O Father of mercy, on all those
with whom Divine Providence has united us here upon earth,
our relatives, benefactors, friends, and enemies ; have mercy, also,
upon all who are distressed and afflicted, upon all who are sick
and about to die. O holy God, powerful God, immortal God,
have mercy upon us in life and in death.
All. O God, have mercy upon all, living and dead.
Leader. Holy Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, St.
Joseph, and ye beloved angels and saints, supply through your
intercession what is wanting in our prayers, and implore for us
the assistance and protection of Almighty God.
All. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Leader. O Lord, grant to the souls of the faithful departed
eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they
rest in peace.
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 535
AIL Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, I believe in God, etc.
EVENING BLESSING.
The blessing of the Most Holy Trinity, the grace and mercy
of the heavenly Father, the peace and love of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, the virtue of His bitter passion and death, the protection
and assistance of the Holy Ghost, be and remain with us now
and forever, and guard and protect us and ours this night, and
ever, from all evil of soul and body. In the name of the >J*
Father, ard of the »J« Son, and of the »J* Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON.
Lord Jesus, he whom Thou lovest is sick. Let it not be
a sickness to death, but to Thy glory and to his sanctification.
Thou hast restored so many sick to health, so many dead to life,
even so extend Thy goodness to this sick person, and let him be
come well again. Thou art almighty and infinitely good. Speak
but one word and he shall regain his health. But we know not
always what is good for us; do Thou, therefore, what is pleasing
to Thee. Only give to the sufferer patience, and to us true love
for him, that with him we may, in this life, give thanks to Thee
in Thy temple for hearing our prayers, and, in the life to come,
may praise Thee forever in heaven. Amen.
ZTbe Xftans of tbe Saints.
ANTHEM.
TDEMEMBER not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents •
-"-*1 neither take Thou vengeance of our sins.
~r~ ORD, have mercy on us.
-*-^ Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
God the Son, Eedeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
536 THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All ye holy angels and archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,
St. John Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
All ye holy disciples of Our Lord,
All ye holy innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Yincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All ye holy martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 537
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
St. Louis,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cicilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All ye holy virgins and widows,
All ye holy men and women, saints of God,
Make intercession for us.
Be merciful,
Spare us, 0 Lord.
Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord*
From all evil,
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From sudden and unlooked-for death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation,
Through Thy coming,
53S
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
Through Thy nativity,
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through Thy cross and passion,
Through Thy deatli and burial,
Through Thy holy resurrection,
Through Thine admirable ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment,
We sinners,
Beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy
holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic
Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of
holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true con
cord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to
all Christian people,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us
in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our bene
factors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our
brethren, relations, and benefactors, from eternal dam
nation,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the
fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all
the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 539
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father (secretly).
V. And lead us not into temptation.
H. But deliver us from evil.
PSALM 69. DEUS IN ADJUTORIUM.
O God, come to my assistance : O Lord, make haste to help
me.
Let them be confounded and ashamed : that seek my soul.
Let them be turned backward and blush for shame: that
desire evils to me.
Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that
say to me : "Tis well, 'tis well.
Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and
let such as love Thy salvation say always, The Lord be magni
fied.
But I am needy and poor : O God, help me.
Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no
delay.
Glory be, etc.
V. Save Thy servants.
ft. "Who hope in Thee, O my God.
Y. Be unto us, O Lord, a tower of strength.
R. From the face of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
1$. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
It. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.
V. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff, ]¥.
It. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make
him blessed upon the earth : and deliver him not up to the will
of his enemies.
V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
540 THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward
with eternal life all them that do us good. Amen.
V. Let us pray for the faithful departed.
R. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord : and let perpetual
light shine upon them.
V. Let them rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. For our absent brethren.
7?. Save Thy servants, who hope in Thee, O my God.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from the sanctuary.
R. And defend them out of Sion.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
E. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to
ripare, receive our humble petition : that we and all Thy ser
vants who are bound by the chains of sin may, by the compassion
of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.
Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of
Thy suppliants, and forgive the sins of them that confess to
Thee : that, in Thy bounty, Thou mayest grant us both pardon
and peace.
Show forth upon us, O Lord, in Thy mercy, Thy unspeak
able loving-kindness ; that Thou mayest both loose us from all
our sins and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve
for them.
O God, "Who by sin art offended and by penance pacified,
mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplica
tion to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which
we deserve for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant
2T., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy
clemency, into the way of everlasting salvation : that by Thy
grace he may both desire those things that are pleasing to Thee,
and perform them with all his strength.
O God, from Whom all holy desires, all right counsels, and
all just works do come, give unto Thy servants that peace which
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 541
the world cannot give : that our hearts being devoted to Thy
commandments, and the fear of enemies being taken away, our
times, by Thy protection may be peaceful.
Inflame, O Lord, our reins and heart with the fire of the
Holy Ghost : that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and
please Thee with a clean heart.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give
to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their
sins : that through pious supplication they may obtain the par
don which they have always desired.
Prompt, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy in
spirations, and further them with Thy continual help: that
every prayer and work of ours may always begin from Thee,
and through Thee be likewise ended.
Almighty, everlasting God, Who hast dominion over the
living and the dead, and art merciful to all who Thou fore-
knowest will be Thine by faith and works : we humbly beseech
Thee that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers,
whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the
world to come hath already received them stripped of their
mortal bodies, may, by the grace of Thy loving-kindness, and by
the intercession of all the saints, obtain the remission of all their
sins. Through Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God
forever and ever.
It. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.
It. Amen.
V. And may the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of
God, rest in peace.
It. Amen.
542 DEVOTIONS FOE CONFESSION.
Devotions for Confession*
PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION.
A PEAYEE (TO BE EEPEATED SEVEKAL DAYS BEFOEE CONFESSION)
TO IMPLOEE THE GEACE OF CONVEESION AND THE DIVINE ASSIST
ANCE IN OEDEE TO MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION.
OUE FATHEE, Hail Mary, and the Creed.
Behold, O my God, prostrate in spirit before the throne
of Thy mercy, an ungrateful child, who has a thousand times
offended Thee and abused Thy kindness ! Thou hast created me
out of nothing, and redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy
only Son. Thou hast given me the grace to be born in the true
faith, to be brought up amid good example and the blessings of
Thy Church. Thou hast given me to know how good and lovely
Thou art ; Thou hast asked me to love Thee, and offered me
heaven in return, and yet I have not hesitated to offend Thy
divine majesty. I have sinned wilfully and knowingly; I
have preferred the emptiest trifles to Thee. Alas, my God, all
this I have said before ; again and again have I sought reconcilia
tion with Thee in the Sacrament of Penance ; again and again
have I promised fidelity to Thee, yet, alas, my God, although
Thou hast cleansed me in Thy sacred blood, behold me again
prostrate before Thee, covered with the hideous leprosy of sin,
unable to return to Thee, unless Thou call me, and in Thy
mercy lift me up. Oh, give me the grace now at least to make
a good confession ; fill my heart with sorrow for sin, let me see
Thee, see myself, see all creatures, as I shall see them when
death shall have removed the veil from my mortal eyes. Let
me feel the importance of approaching worthily thy tribunal
of penance, and guard me from a profanation of Thy sacred
blood by a bad or careless confession. Give me Thy light to see
my sins in all their enormity; a hearty sorrow to regret and
bewail them ; sincerity to confess them, that, cleansed and purified
in the saving blood of Thy Son, I may have strength to struggle
against the enemies of my soul, and go on in the way of Thy
commandments, without stumbling. "O Lord, Father and
Sovereign Ruler of my life, leave me not to the counsel of my
lips, nor suffer me to fall by them. Who will set scourges over
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 543
my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my heart, that
they spare me not in their ignorances, and that their sins may
not appear, lest my ignorances increase, and my offences be
multiplied and iny sins abound, and I fall before my adversaries,
and my enemy rejoice over me? O Lord, Father and God of
my life, give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn away
from me all coveting. Take from me the greediness of the
belly, and let not the lusts of the flesh take hold of me, and give
me not over to a shameless and foolish mind."
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.
PRAYER FOR LIGHT TO SEE OUR SINS AND DETEST THEM.
O my God ! I am firmly convinced that however sincerely
I may desire to discover all my offences, yet I am absolutely
incapable of discerning even the least of my sins, without the
assistance of Thy Holy Spirit. O Judge of the living and the
dead, before Whom I must appear one day to give an account
of all my thoughts, words, actions, and omissions, from my
coming to the use of reason to the last instant of my life, give
me, I entreat of Thee, that light and grace without which I can
do nothing. Eternal Source of light, Who trieth the heart and
the reins of man, and from Whom nothing is hidden, I come to
Thee, entreating Thee to pour Thy light into my soul, that by
its rays I may discover the state of my conscience, and the sins
of which I am guilty before Thee. O Lord, say, " Let there be
light," and then Thy light will dawn upon my soul, and dispel
the dark clouds which overshadow it. Show me myself such as
I am in Thy sight, that, recognizing the number and enormity of
my sins, I may be able to accuse myself of them in the tribunal
of penance, and there obtain pardon. Descend into my heart,
and grant me one ray of that light which will enlighten my soul
at the moment of its departure from this world, that knowing
all my sins I may expiate them in Thy sacrament. Alas! I
shall then see all my sins in their true colors, when it will be too
late to detest and renounce them; but now is "the acceptable
time, the day of salvation," every moment of which is precious:
this life is that season of mercy in which Thou hast promised to
receive and pardon a repenting sinner. Oh ! do not then refuse
me Thy divine assistance ; show them to me so as to excite my
544 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION".
deepest sorrow and contrition, now that the knowledge of myself
can lead to my perfect conversion. Discover to me all that
displeases Thee in my heart; let nothing escape the exact
scrutiny I am about to make, that I may thoroughly know
myself, and then, by an humble, candid, contrite accusation,
make myself known to Thy minister, and let me not deceive
myself by a false repentance, which would only make me still
more guilty in Thy sight.
FORMULA FOE THOSE WHO CONFESS RARELY.
Those who confess often may use the same formula as in Even
ing Devotions. Begin by examining yourself on your last con
fession and communion. Whether a grievous sin was forgotten
by want of proper examination ; concealed or disguised through
shame. "Whether you confessed without a true sorrow, a firm
purpose of amendment, and repairing evil done to your neighbor.
See whether you received without recollection or devotion,
or neglected to offer a proper thanksgiving, which should be for
at least a quarter of an hour. Whether the penance was per
formed without voluntary distractions. Whether you have
neglected your confessor's counsel, and fallen at once into habitual
sins. Whether you have renounced all affection to mortal sin,
or remained long in sin without eliciting acts of contrition and
returning to confession.
EXAMINATION ON THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE
CHURCH.
All the commandments of the Church may be comprised in
those of God, and they are treated here with the seven capital
sins in one general examination. Do not neglect to consider the
circumstances which alter the giievousness of the sin, nor the
various ways in which we become accessory to the sins of others.
FIRST COMMANDMENT OF GOD — THIRD AND FOURTH COMMAND.
MENTS OF THE CHURCH.
[This commandment enjoins the worship of God by faith,
hope, and charity, and by proper acts of outward religious wor
ship ; and forbids all that is contrary to these virtues, or any
omission of the religious duties which the Church enjoins.]
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 545
SINS AGAINST FAITH.
By thought. — Have we consented or wilfully entertained
thoughts or doubts against any truth of religion— refused to
believe it — curiously sought to fathom any mystery?
By word.— Communicated our doubts to others— openly
refused our belief to a point of faith— or ridiculed the belief of
the Church?
By action.— Exposed ourselves to lose the faith by listening
to freethinkers, enemies of the Church, persons in error, or read
ing works against the truths of Catholicity— have we given such
books to others — been ashamed of our religion — denied it?
By omission.— Neglected to be instructed in the doctrines
and precepts of the faith— been ignorant of what is absolutely
necessary for salvation— or of what is necessary for approaching
the sacraments?
SINS AGAINST HOPE.
By thought. — Have we despaired of God's mercy by giving
up all endeavors to amend, or presumed on His goodness by de
ferring our repentance — have we failed in submission to Provi
dence in the events of life — attributed success to our own
talents?
By word. — Manifested thoughts of discouragement, pre
sumption, or despair — murmured against Providence — led others
to such thoughts?
By action. — Eesisted inspirations of the Holy Ghost, espe
cially those that were clear and frequent — exposed ourselves to
mortal sin — boasted of our talents?
By omission. — Not had recourse to God in temptation.
SINS MOKE ESPECIALLY AGAINST CHARITY.
By thought. — Consented to thoughts of disgust or hatred of
God?
By word. — Spoken blasphemously, boasted of sin — con
demned others for observing the law of God, or prevented them
from doing good ?
By action. — Lived in forge tfulness of God, and in disregard
of our salvation — violated God's law through human respect,
preferring the creature to the Creator.
546 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION".
By omission. — Omitted a good work through human re
spect—habitually neglected to offer and refer all our thoughts,
words, and deeds to God?
SINS AGAINST THE VIRTUE OF RELIGION AND THE DIVINE WORSHIP.
By thought. — Voluntary distractions in prayer, whether of
obligation or not — despised relics, holy pictures, the rites, and
other things approved by the Church— taken pleasure in irre
ligious acts— put faith in dreams— resolved to neglect the yearly
confession and Easter communion?
By word. Spoken with contempt of holy things, or any
religious object entitled to respect — ridiculed the divine worship
or its ceremonies?
By action. — Profaned the sacraments — been irreverent in
holy places — been guilty of superstition by putting our confi
dence in things which have no virtue in themselves or by the
institution of the Church of God— consulted fortune-tellers-
made rash vows?
By omission. — Omitted to adore God daily, to pray to Him
morning and evening, to thank Him for His favors— omitted the
obligatory annual confession and Easter communion — omitted to
approach the Sacrament of Penance after falling into sin— neg
lected the fasts and abstinences of obligation — omitted to make
frequent acts of faith, hope, and charity.
SECOND COMMANDMENT.
[This commandment ordains honor and respect to the holy
name of God, His saints, and holy things in general, and forbids
irreverence to them, cursing, swearing.]
By thought. — Have you intended to swear falsely?
By word.— Blasphemed God, the Blessed Virgin, or the
saints— pronounced the name of Our Lord without respect-
used words of the Scriptures in jest— sworn unnecessarily or
falsely or in doubtful matters— sworn to be revenged or commit
any other sin (such an oath is a sin, and the keeping of it is
another) promised with an oath without intending to fulfil it-
affirmed with imprecations what we knew to be false or doubt
ful?
By action.— Induced any one to swear falsely, or been the
cause of others' blasphemy ?
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 547
By omission. — Not accomplished vows, or done it ill and
late.
TRIED COMMANDMENT OF GOD — FIRST AND SECOND COMMAND
MENTS OF THE CHURCH.
[The duties enjoined by these commandments relate to the
sanctification of the Sunday and holy-days of obligation, by hear
ing Mass and doing good works, such as hearing sermons, read
ing good books. They forbid all neglect of hearing Mass, ex
cept when prevented by illness or other just impediment, and
especially all misspending of the day in worldly or sinful amuse
ments. They also enjoin the observance of the fasts and absti
nences ordained by the Church.]
By thought. — Eesolved not to hear Mass or to work on Sun
days and holy-days of obligation — been voluntarily distracted
during a Mass of obligation, especially during the more solemn
parts — neglected to hear a second Mass when the first was not
properly heard — resolved not to observe the fasts or abstinences
of the Church?
By word. — Talked from levity or any worse motive during
Mass or any other office of the Church?
By action. — Worked or made others work on Sundays or
holy-days without absolute necessity — bought or sold not of
necessity — neglected to sanctify such days by prayer and good
works — spent them in vain amusements — in sinful excesses — pre
vented others from hearing Mass and sanctifying the day?
By omission. — Neglected to watch that those under our
care fulfilled their duty on Sundays and holy-days — omitted to
hear Mass on such days, or heard only a part of a Mass — habitu
ally heard only a Low Mass when we might attend the High
Mass and sermon — omitted to sanctify the day, especially when
unable to hear Mass ?
FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD AND FIFTH COMMANDMENT OF
THE CHURCH.
[These commandments comprise our duties towards our
parents and to all our superiors, civil and spiritual, and is
violated by disobedience, disrespect, rebellion against lawful
authority, neglect to assist our parents, etc. They also include
the duties of parents and superiors to those under their care.
548 DEVOTIONS FOB CONFESSION.
Under this head come all our domestic relations, as parent and
child, master or mistress, and servant or apprentice, teacher and
pupil, etc.]
By thought. — Hated father or mother — desired their death
or injury — judged them rashly or despised their inferiority —
entertained such feelings towards any superior, temporal or
spiritual?
By word. — Spoken ill of them — cursed, threatened, or in
sulted them — done so to superiors or other persons in the family
— to our pastors?
By action. — Showed disrespect — struck or attempted to
strike them — disobeyed them in important matters — caused in
them anger or blasphemy — taken their property without their
permission — neglected to execute their last will, or obeyed them
in forbidden things — showed contempt for civil or ecclesiastical
superiors? If parents : Punished children not for their good
or from love, but from anger and a spirit of revenge — forced
them against their will into marriage or the religious state — not
left them free in the choice of their state of life — given them
bad example — ordered them to do what was contrary to the law
of God, or prevented their fulfilling the duties of their religion?
By omission. — Not assisted parents when in need, whether
in sickness or in health — promised marriage without consulting
them, or married against their just opposition — neglected to
contribute according to our means to the support of our pastor?
If a father : Not given what was necessary to wife and family —
neglected the instruction, especially the religious instruction, of
your children — not corrected them when in fault— neglected to
watch over their company, associations, reading, etc. — prevented
their settling suitably in life?
[Let each here examine his duty as child, pupil, apprentice,
servant, etc.]
FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
[This commandment, which forbids taking away the life of
the body by wilful murder, and of the soul by scandal, or caus
ing any one to fall into mortal sin — also quarrelling, revenge,
bad example, hatred — includes the principal duties prescribed
by the great precept of fraternal charity, or loving our neighbor
as ourselves.]
DEVOTION'S FOR CONFESSION. 549
By thought. — Had aversion or hatred for our neighbor, de
sired revenge or his misfortune — rejoiced at his reverses — envied
him — maintained feelings of enmity — been impatient in trouble,
or desired death.
By word. — Counselled or approved revenge — insulted or
slandered any one — harshly dismissed the poor — caused disunion
and enmity by reports true or false, and to what extent? — neg
lected to repair the evil?
By action. — Exposed one's self unnecessarily or sinfully to
danger of death, as by duelling — injured health by excess of any
kind — deprived one's self of absolute necessaries from avarice —
revenged injuries — given way to anger or impatience — struck or
wounded any one — caused the death of any one — done any act
from which death would be likely to result — caused or attempted
abortion — giving death to our neighbor's soul by leading him into
sin, in any of the ways by which we may be accessory — neglected
the baptism of our children?
By omission. — Not given good advice when able — not par
doned an enemy, or when in wrong asked pardon — refused to aid
a neighbor by alms or otherwise — why?
SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS, AND SIXTH COMMANDMENT
OF THE CHUECH.
[I. These commandments ordain, first, that those united in
marriage should love and respect each other, support each other's
failings, and devote themselves harmoniously to the great object
of the Sacrament of Matrimony, the bringing up of their chil
dren in the love and fear of God, a duty already treated of.
II. These commandments forbid, in the married, all violation
of the marriage-bed, and, in all, every sin in thought, word, or
deed against that sovereign purity of soul and body which our
holy religion enjoins upon us. They not only forbid adultery,
fornication, and every sin of impurity with ourselves and others,
but also require us to seek the virtue of purity and chastity in its
highest perfection.]
DUTY OF HUSBAND AND WIFE.
By thought. — Courted danger by thoughts which could alien
ate from our lawful spouse — been unfaithful in thought or desire
— entertained feelings of anger, hatred — intended to deceive?
550 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION.
By word. — Been unreserved in speech so as to excite jeal
ousy — spoken unkindly — had harsh and angry disputes?
By action. — Married secretly, or when any impediment ex-
isted — not been united by a lawful pastor — not prepared
for the sacrament — been unfaithful? (If a husband) treated my
wife harshly or with neglect — deprived her of necessary or
proper apparel, etc. — exposed her to danger? (If a wife) been
wanting in submission — dressed extravagantly or with evil mo
tives — maintained acquaintances without a husband's knowledge
— abandoned each other — refused to be reconciled?
By omission. — Neglected to retain the affection of each
other — not prayed for each other — not sought to maintain each
other in God's service — neglected the care of your children, if
God has blessed you with any — neglected your household duties
(if a wife), or to support your family (if a husband)?
SINS AGAINST PURITY.
We shall not enter into details on this subject. It is a pitch
which defiles. Those who sin against these two commandments
know it well : those who do not should never learn. One thing
is certain, there is nothing light in this matter — it is almost im
possible to sin only venially. It is a pest which infests the whole
being. If attacked, we must examine all our faculties, memory,
understanding, and will ; all the senses, hearing, sight, and touch ;
sound our thoughts, words, and actions; our very dreams, to
know whether we have consented on waking, or caused them
voluntarily ; see whether we have caused or taken pleasure in ir
regular sensations ; examine whether we have led others to sin
by letters, messages, presents, songs, indecent actions, or bad ex
ample; exposed one's self to sin by permitting dangerous or for
bidden pleasures. We must examine whether we have dressed
with bad intentions or contrary to decency — gone to church with
evil intentions — omitted to pray when violently tempted. It is
necessary to state the condition of the person with whom we have
sinned or desired to sin — that is, whether married or not, bound
by vows or not — and also our own.
We must also state whether the sin is habitual or not.
SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS.
[These commandments forbid us to covet or take our neigh-
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 551
bor's goods without his permission, and include all modes of
taking, however indirect ; great care is necessary in examining
in this particular, inasmuch as sins against it can be forgiven
only on restitution being made, except where the party is wholly
unable to do so, and then the restitution is only suspended. This
commandment also forbids avarice, or an inordinate love of
earthly temporal tilings.]
By thought. — Desired or wished to take another's property,
to cheat him, not pay him or restore him his property avari
ciously desired wealth or other property ?
By word. — Gained by falsehood or false oaths — counselled
or approved any wrrong done our neighbor?
By action. — Taken another's property by fraud or violence
— how much — with or without the design of taking more — from
a poor person — from a church — been avaricious — hoarded up
property — been in any way accessory to a theft — defrauded the
State of its rights — appropriated an article found without mak
ing any endeavor to find the owner?
Cheated in any way in trade — by false weights or measures,
and selling inferior goods — by imposing on the ignorant — passed
bad money — profited by a person's necessity to get an exorbitant
price — bought things stolen — bought of such as had no right to
sell — combined with others to run up prices — combined with
others to extort higher wages from masters, or to give lower
wages to persons in employ?
Made illegal contracts — defrauded government or the public
by fraudulent failures?
Aided others to recover money not justly due?
Exacted payment for services not rendered?
Gambled away the property of our families, or spent it in
carousing or amusements?
Given money to bribe judges or jurors in our favor — or to
obtain office — or accepted bribes?
By omission. — Omitted to do the duties for which we were
employed — neglected to pay our servants, workmen, etc., or
kept back their wages — paid them in such a way that they were
losers — not paid our debts — lived so extravagantly that we could
not, and neglected to retrench — not prevented a loss to our
neighbors when we could — neglected to give alms and aid the
poor according to our means — refused to aid works of charity
552 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION.
when able — neglected to make restitution, or made it only after
long delay — how long?
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
[This commandment forbids all perjury and false swearing,
all lies, falsehood, and equivocation. It also embraces every sin
against charity, whether by detraction, rash judgment, suspicion,
ill-natured reports, or insinuation, want of kindness, or forbear
ance, and a violation of the clear and positive rule of charity, to
act, speak, and even think of others as we wish they should
think, act, and speak of us.]
By thought. — Suspected or misjudged our neighbor unrea
sonably ?
By word. — Manifested our suspicions or rash judgments to
others — revealed secrets confided to us — lied with or without
detriment to our neighbor — calumniated him, that is, spoken evil
of him falsely — made known his faults — to how many — taking
pleasure in hearing him calumniated or slandered — drawn con
versation to it?
By action. — Made false accusations to superiors or the au
thorities — sworn falsely, either in court or elsewhere — induced
others to give false testimony and commit perjury — given money
to carry on frauds at elections, and so induce perjury — aided
such frauds in any way, excused or justified them?
Forged documents, stolen or destroyed records to injure
others ?
By omission. — Taken the oaths of any society condemned by
the Church — neglected to stop calumny or slander when we
could or were bound to do so by our station — not given all the
honor due them — not repaired the evil caused our neighbor by
our sins in these particulars?
DUTIES OF OUR STATE OF LIFE.
What are they — have we fulfilled them day by day — in what
respect especially have we transgressed?
Have we lived without really thinking of God and our duties
as Christians — made no effort to advance in virtue?
[Observe that every matter noted in this examen does not
constitute a mortal sin, but such only as are a violation of God's
law in a grievous matter, with full advertence and a deliberation
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 553
of the will. Observe, too, that a sin is not less grievous because
habitual, or done without attention to it at the moment : on the
contrary, habit renders it more grievous, if with a firm will we
do not struggle against it and use the means prescribed.]
A PRAYER TO BEG OF GOD THE GRACE OF SINCERE CONTRITION.
I have now, O my God, aided by Thy grace, endeavored
to discover the number of my transgressions, and have examined,
to the best of my power, the state of my conscience. But, alas !
0 Judge of the living and the dead ! how far different is my
judgment from Thine! How many offences are still perhaps
hidden from my view, though perfectly known to Thee ! But,
my God, as I am persuaded it is not so much a knowledge of
their number, as sorrow for their deformity, that Thou requirest,
1 now earnestly implore of Thee to give me that lively, sincere,
efficacious contrition, which I know is a necessary condition of
my pardon. My heart was formed by Thee, Thou alone canst
change it; it is in Thy hands, and though most ungrateful,
most insensible, it is not too obdurate for Thee to penetrate and
soften. One drop of Thy adorable blood, one of those precious
tears which my offences drew from Thy eyes, would suffice to
produce in my soul the most lively contrition. Ah ! look on
me, Eternal Light ! and my understanding will be enlightened
to conceive the enormity of sin ; touch my heart, and it will be
broken with sorrow for having ever offended Thee. Convert
me, and I shall be converted ; for my destruction, my misery,
and my misfortune is from myself, but my salvation must come
from Thee, O my most merciful Father ! from Thee, Whom I
have so ungratefully abandoned, and so grievously offended.
ACT OF CONTRITION FOR THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY OF MORTAL SIN.
O infinite majesty of my God ! I am so full of shame at the
sight of the ingratitude and malice of which I find myself guilty
before Thee, that I dare not raise my eyes to heaven. I confess,
0 most gracious and merciful Lord, that by the multitude and
enormity of my sins I have deserved to be abandoned by Thee,
and condemned to eternal torments. Ah, unhappy being that
1 am, how can I have dared to offend Thee ! Can it be, O my
Saviour, that I have trampled under foot Thy blood, by which
I was redeemed ; and that I have thus renewed the pains of Thy
554 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION.
passion and of Thy death! Ah, why, why did I not die at
once, rather than displease Thee ! How could I dare to offend
against Thee, Who art infinite goodness, wisdom, and beauty !
. . . . Thee, Who art perfection itself! .... Thee, Who art
my God, my Creator, my beginning, my end, my happiness,
my all ! .... Thee, from Whom I have received my being,
my life, and all that I am ! .... Thee, Who hast guided and
protected me with the tenderest love under the shadow of Thy
wings! .... Thee, Who hast adopted me for Thy child, and
made me heir to Thy eternal kingdom ! . . . . Thee, Who hast
redeemed me by Thy most precious blood, and hast so often
nourished me with Thy most sacred body and blood in the Sac
rament of the Eucharist! And yet, notwithstanding these
Thy great and manifold blessings, I have offended Thee, O my
God! I have abandoned Thee, to league with Thy enemies
against Thee. I have preferred a vile gratification to Thy
love. O ingratitude ! O delusion ! O madness ! Ah, when
shall I detest my sins as much as they deserve? O my sweet
and merciful Lord Jesus, of Whose goodness there is no end,
and of Whose mercy the treasure is infinite, have pity on me,
and save my soul ! Pardon me, O most bountiful Lord, pardon
me, I entreat Thee, by the merit of Thy bitter passion and
death ! Eemember not my iniquities, but regard Thy infinite
mercy. I promise that, by the help of Thy grace, I will never
fall into them again. From this very moment I break all the
ties that bind me to the world, to the flesh, to the devil, and to
sin. I am from this moment firmly resolved to trample under
foot all worldly vanities, and to consecrate myself entirely to
Thy holy love. Oh, never allow me to fall back into my old
habits of sin ! Never permit that honors, or interest, or pleas
ure, or pride, or the love of life, or the fear of death, or any
other motive, shall cause me to swerve from Thy divine com
mands. Grant that I may keep them with my whole heart,
though it should cost me the sacrifice of my life, and of all I
hold dearest in the world.
Ah, what has been my folly and my wickedness in having
so often and so grievously offended my God, my heavenly Father,
my gracious and loving Redeemer ! What ingratitude, what an
excess of malice ! At the very moment I was receiving with
one hand the greatest favors and graces from this my most ten-
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 555
der and merciful Lord, with the other I was plunging a dagger
into His bosom — I was crucifying Him again within my soul !
I have sold myself to the devil for a worthless pleasure ; I have
renounced the kingdom of heaven and all the joys of paradise
for a trifling enjoyment ; I have signed the decree for my eter
nal damnation to gratify my pride ; I have condemned myself
to suffer an eternity of torments and all the agonies of hell, to
indulge an unworthy passion ! Ah, who will give to my eyes a
fountain of tears, that I may weep and lament over my sins !
O my divine Redeemer, Whose love I have unhappily de
spised, Whose blood I have trodden under foot, Whose wounds
I have reopened, and Whose death I haye renewed by my sins !
How can I present myself before Thee after so great an excess
of ingratitude and malice ! O my gracious Saviour, what hadst
Thou done to me that I should treat Thee so cruelly ! Thou
hast reconciled me to Thy Father by Thy death, and I have
again drawn down upon myself His indignation by repeated
sins, Thou hast snatched me from the slavery of the devil,
and I have again entangled myself in his snares. Thou hast
healed my wounds, and I have inflicted fresh ones on myself.
Thou hast delivered me from the eternal flames of hell, to
which I was condemned by my sins, and I have cast myself into
them again. Thou hast obtained heaven for me, and I have
sold the right which Thou didst purchase at the price of Thy
blood, for a trifling pleasure, for a corruptible crown. Is it
possible to conceive folly, stupidity, malice, equal to mine ! I
confess it here before Thee, O Lord ; I detest it from the depths
of my soul ; and resolve to die a thousand times rather than fall
again into it. Ah, wilt Thou reject a contrite and humble sin
ner, when Thou didst come down from heaven to call sinners to
repentance? Wilt Thou refuse to receive this strayed sheep
which returns from his wanderings, after Thou hast sought him
so long, to bring him back to the fold? Wilt Thou reject this
prodigal child, who comes to throw himself at Thy feet, after
Thou hast so much grieved over his loss? Wilt Thou leave me
forever to groan under the insupportable weight of sin, when
Thou didst invite all those who are burdened to cast their load
at Thy feet? Thou didst absolve the sinful woman when,
kneeling before Thee, she implored Thy mercy; Thou didst
remit the sins of the publican when he humbled himself in Thy
556 DEVOTIONS FOE CONFESSION.
temple ; Thou didst pardon the good thief when he acknowl
edged Thy power on the cross ; and shall I be the only one to
whom Thou wilt refuse grace? No, my adorable Saviour, not
so. I trust that, however unworthy I have made myself of
pardon, yet Thou wilt grant it to me, and that Thy precious
blood will appease Thy Father's wrath against me, and wash
away the stain of my sins. Offer it, then, to Him for me, O
Lord, and apply it so effectually to me that I may be entirely
cleansed, and may be judged worthy to enter into the blessed
mansions, where nothing defiled can be admitted. Amen.
RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT.
Since I have had the misfortune to offend Thee, O my God,
and as I cannot recall the past, I resolve at least, with the assist
ance of Thy grace, to repair it by henceforth carefully avoid
ing all that displeases Thee. I will shun sin, with its sources
and occasions, particularly those sins into which my natural
frailty most frequently leads me. I will adopt the means sug
gested by Thy minister for the correction of my faults, listening
to his words as if spoken by Thyself. I know, O my God, what
I should have to apprehend from the severity of Thy justice, if
Thy anger had not been appeased by the merits of Jesus Christ.
I feel that Thou wilt not reject the prayer of Thy innocent
Son, "Whose blood pleads for me, His guilty creature. In this
hope, O God of goodness, I present myself at Thy tribunal,
there to accuse myself of my sins entirely, sincerely, and
humbly, with full confidence that Thou wilt ratify in heaven
the absolution pronounced on earth. Holy Virgin, Mother of
grace and mercy, refuge of sinners, intercede for me, that
in this confession I may receive full pardon for the past, and
grace to avoid sin in future. My good angel, who hast been
witness of my transgressions, help me to rise from my evil
habits, and obtain for me strength against future relapses.
Amen.
CONFESSION.
Renew your Act of Contrition and approach the confessional
with the same recollectedness, silence, and modesty which would
fill your heart if Christ our Lord were seated there in person
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 557
ready to hear your confession, and not the priest who is really
His representative.
When your turn has come, kneel down and say: " Bless
me, father, for I have sinned," and then begin the " Con-
titeor," proceeding as far as " through my fault," etc. Then
tell when you last approached the sacraments, the period your
confession is to embrace, and begin the avowal of your sins.
Accuse yourself first of the faults, if any, in your last confes
sion and communion, and when you have stated all, especially if
you are so happy as to have no mortal sin on your conscience,
conclude thus :
c c For these and all the sins of my past life, especially my
sins of (naming some grievous sin), I am heartily sorry, beg
pardon of God, and absolution of you, my father," and con
clude the " Confiteor."
Listen then with humility and docility to the advice of your
confessor, and during this time avoid all recurrence as to the
confession itself; remembering that sins forgotten after a serious
examination are really comprised in the absolution. Accept
with submission the penance imposed, and if any obstacle that
you foresee will prevent your accomplishing it, state this re
spectfully.
And while he pronounces the words of absolution endeavor
to excite an act of perfect contrition. Should your ghostly
father deem it proper to defer absolution, acknowledge your
unworthiness, murmur not. Leave the confessional resolved
to use every effort, by a change of life and sincere repentance,
to obtain God's pardon, which His minister will ratify.
PRAYER AFTER CONFESSION, WHEN ABSOLUTION HAS BEEN
DEFERRED.
Alas ! my God, I leave the tribunal of mercy, without hav
ing received the grace of justification which I so earnestly de
sire. I feel and acknowledge that I am unworthy of so great a
favor, for I have broken my repeated promises, neglected my
resolutions, and, for a trifling gratification, deliberately offended
Thee. But instead of casting me into despair, the delay of
absolution shall only prove an incentive to courageous and vig
orous efforts to correct my faults, to repair my past omissions
of duty, to practise solid virtue, and adhere more faithfully to
558 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION.
my promises in future than I have done hitherto. With the
assistance of that grace which I now earnestly' implore, and
on which alone I rely, I will adopt every means in my power to
recover Thy friendship, and merit the happiness of being rein
stated among the favored number of Thy children. Amen.
If your confessor thinks it proper to give you absolution,
regard it as a grace of which you are unworthy; receive it
with humility, with head and body bowed humbly before God.
Pronounce an act of contrition, and say some such prayer as
the following:
ACT AFTER CONFESSION.
My dear Jesus, how much do I not owe Thee ! By the
merits of Thy blood I hope that I have this day been pardoned.
I thank Thee above all things. I hope to reach heaven, where
I shall praise Thy mercies forever. My God, if I have hitherto
lost Thee so often, I now desire to lose Thee no more. From
this day forward I will change my life in earnest. Thou dost
merit all my love ; I will love Thee truly ; I will no longer see
myself separated from Thee. I have promised Thee this already ;
now I repeat my promise of being ready to die rather than to
offend Thee again. I promise also to avoid all occasions of sin ;
and to take such means as shall prevent my falling again. My
Jesus, Thou knowest my weakness, give me grace to be faithful
to Thee till death, and to have recourse to Thee when I am
tempted. Most holy Mary, help me! Thou art the mother
of perseverance ; I place my hope in thee.
ON THE PENANCE IMPOSED BY THE CONFESSOR.
Satisfaction, which we call penance, though not essential, is
a necessary part of the Sacrament of Penance. Without it the
confession may be valid, as would be the case if a patient were
dying, and unable to perform suitable penance. But it is an
integral part ; so that, should a person at confession not have
the intention of performing the penance enjoined, the confession
is null; for the penitent is obliged, in confessing his sins, to
have the intention of complying with the penance imposed by
the confessor. But, if he has the intention of performing the
penance, and afterwards neglects to fulfil it, the confession is
valid ; but he is guilty of a mortal sin if the penance be grievous.
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 559
It is necessary to know that when a person commits a sin, he
contracts the guilt, and also the punishment due to the guilt of
sin. By the absolution of the confessor, the guilt and the eternal
punishment are remitted, and when the penitent has intense
contrition, all the temporal punishment is also remitted. But,
when the contrition is not so great, the temporal penalties re
main to be suffered either in this life or in purgatory, as the
Council of Trent teaches. (Sess. xiv. ch. viii.) There the
council declares that sacramental penance not only atones for the
punishment due to us, but that it also cures the bad effect left
by sin ; the passions, evil habits, the hardness of heart ; and
that it obtains for us strength not to relapse into sin. Therefore,
go to confession every week, or at least every fortnight ; but
never allow a month to pass without approaching the tribunal of
penance.
The penance must be performed within the time fixed b;y
the confessor ; and should he not fix a time, it ought to be per
formed without delay ; for when the penance is grievous, and
particularly when it is medicinal, to defer the performance of
it for a long while would be a mortal sin,
OFFERING OF THE PENANCE ENJOINED AT CONFESSION.
O God of sanctity, of myself I have no means of satisfying
Thy rigorous justice, but I offer Thee an abundant satisfaction
in the infinite merits of a God-man. I present Thee, O my
God, the sacred heart of Thy Son, filled with sadness and
pierced with wounds for me, that Thy justice may thus be ap
peased. I unite my sufferings to the bitter pangs of my dying
Saviour. May the abundance of His merits, and the immense
charity of His heart, supply for the imperfection and insuffi
ciency of my works. O Lord, Who hast severed my chains,
strengthen me with Thy grace, that I may never resume them ;
that I may conquer the bad habits which have been so long op
posed to Thy Spirit, and courageously resist the temptations to
which I have hitherto so easily yielded. Amen.
560 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
Devotions for tools Communion,
HOW WE OUGHT TO COMMUNICATE.
PREPARE yourself for holy communion the evening before by
many ejaculations of love, retiring earlier, that you may
rise sooner in the morning. Should you awake in the night,
raise your heart to God immediately, and make some ardent
aspirations, in order to prepare your soul for the reception of
her Spouse, Who, being awake whilst you were asleep, prepares
a thousand graces and favors for you, if, on your part, you are
disposed to receive them. In the morning, rise up with alacrity
to enjoy the happiness you hope for ; and having confessed, go
with a great but humble confidence to receive this heavenly
food, which nourishes your soul to immortality : and after re
peating thrice, "Lord, I am not worthy," etc., cease to move
your lips to pray, or to sigh, but opening your mouth gently
and moderately, and lifting up your head as much as is neces
sary, that the priest may see what he is about, full of faith,
hope, and charity, receive Him, in Whom, by Whom, and for
Whom you believe, hope, and Whom you love. Represent to
yourself that as the bee, after gathering from the flowers the
dew of heaven, and the choicest juice of the earth, reducing
them into honey, carries it into her hive, so the priest, having
taken from the altar the Saviour of the world, the true Son of
God, Who, as the dew, is descended from heaven, and the true
Son of the Virgin, Who, as a flower, is sprung from the earth
of our humanity, puts Him as delicious food into your mouth
and body.
Having received Him in your breast, excite your heart to do
homage to the author of your salvation ; treat with Him concern
ing your internal affairs ; consider that He has taken up His abode
within you for your happiness ; make Him then as welcome as you
possibly can, and conduct yourself in such a manner as to make
it appear by all your actions that God is with you.
But when you cannot enjoy the benefit of really communi
cating at holy Mass, communicate at least spiritually, uniting
yourself by an ardent desire to this life-giving flesh of Our Sav
iour.
Your principal intention in communicating should be to ad-
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION". 561
vance in virtue, to strengthen yourself in the love of God, and
to receive comfort from this love ; for you must receive through
love that which love alone caused to be given to you. You can
not consider Our Saviour in an action either more full of love,
or more tender than this, in which He annihilates Himself, or, as
we may more properly say, changes Himself into food, that so He
may penetrate our souls, and unite Himself most intimately to
the heart, and to the body of His faithful.
If worldlings ask you why you communicate so often, tell
them it is to learn to love God, to purify yourself from your im
perfections, to be delivered from your miseries, to be comforted
in your afflictions, and supported in your weaknesses. Tell them
that two sorts of persons ought to communicate frequently : the
perfect, because, being well disposed, they would be greatly to
blame not to approach to the source and fountain of perfection ;
and the imperfect, to the end that they may be able to aspire to
perfection ; the strong, lest they should become weak ; and the
weak, that they may become strong; the healthy, lest they
should fall into sickness ; and the sick, that they may be restored
to health : that for your part, being imperfect, weak, and sick,
you have need to communicate frequently with Him Who is your
perfection, your strength, and your physician. Tell them that
those who have not many worldly affairs to look after ought to
communicate often, because they have leisure; that those who
have much business on hand should also communicate often, for
he who labors much and is loaded with toil ought to eat solid
food, and that frequently. Tell them that you receive the Holy
Sacrament, to learn to receive it well ; because one can hardly
perform an action well which he does not often practise.
Communicate frequently, then, and as frequently as you can,
with the advice of your ghostly father; and, believe me, by ap
proaching to and eating beauty, purity, and goodness itself, in
this divine sacrament, you will become altogether fair, pure, and
virtuous.
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION.
St. Francis de Sales says that Oar Saviour can never be seen
more amiable and more tender, in all that He has done for us,
than in holy communion, in which He, so to say, annihilates
Himself and becomes food, that He may unite Himself to the
562 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
hearts and bodies of His faithful. Therefore the learned Gerson
used also to say, that there was no means more efficacious than
holy communion whereby to enkindle devotion and the holy love
of God in our souls.
And, indeed, if we speak of doing something agreeable to
God, what can a soul do more agreeable to Him than to receive
communion? St. Denis teaches us that love always tends towards
perfect union ; but how can a soul be more perfectly united with
Jesus than in the manner of which He speaks Himself, saying :
4 ' He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in
Me, and I in him " (John vi. 57)? St. Augustine says that if
every day you receive this sacrament, Jesus will be always with
you, and that you will always advance in divine love.
Again, if there be question of healing our spiritual infirmi
ties, what more certain remedy can we have than holy com
munion, which is called by the sacred Council of Trent ' 4 a rem
edy whereby we may be freed from daily faults, and be preserved
from mortal sins ' ' ?
Whence does it come, asks Cardinal Bona, that in so many
souls we see so little fruit with such frequent communions, and
that they constantly relapse into the same faults? He replies:
c ' The fault is not in the food, but in the disposition of him
who receives." " Can a man," says Solomon, " hide fire in his
bosom, and his garments not burn? " (Prov. vi. 27.) " God is a
consuming fire." He comes Himself in holy communion to en
kindle this divine fire ; how is it, then, says William of Paris,
that we see such a diabolical miracle as that souls should remain
cold in divine love, in the midst of such flames?
All comes from the want of proper dispositions, and especially
from want of preparation. Fire immediately inflames dry but
not green wood ; for this latter is not disposed to burn. The
saints derived great benefit from their communions because
they prepared themselves with great care. St. Aloysius Gonzaga
devoted three days to his preparation for holy communion, and
three days he spent in thanksgiving to his Lord.
To prepare well for holy communion, a soul should be dis
posed on two main points : it should be detached from creatures
and have a great desire to advance in divine love.
In the first place, then, a soul should detach itself from all
things, and drive everything from its heart which is not God.
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 563
' ' He that is washed, r ' saith Jesus, ' ' needeth not but to wash
his feet, but is clean wholly" (John xiii. 10); which signifies,
as St. Bernard explains it, that in order to receive this sacra
ment with great fruit, we should not only be cleansed from
mortal sins, but that our feet also should be washed, that is, be
free from earthly affections ; for being in contact with the earth
they excite a sort of repugnance in God, and soiling the soul
prevent the effects of holy communion.
St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what preparation He required
of her for holy communion, and He replied : u I only ask that
thou shouldst come empty of thyself to receive Me."
In the second place, it is necessary in holy communion to
have a great desire to receive Jesus Christ and His holy love.
In this sacred banquet, says Gerson, only those who are famish
ing receive their fill ; and the most blessed Virgin Mary had
already said the same thing: u He hath filled the hungry with
good things" (Luke i. 53). As Jesus, writes the venerable
Father Avila, only came into this world after He had been much
and long desired, so does He only enter a soul which desires
Him; for it is not becoming that such food should be given
him who has a loathing for it. Our Lord one day said to St.
Matilda : ' ' No bee flies with such impetuosity to flowers, to suck
their honey, as I fly to souls in holy communion, driven by the
violence of My love." Since, then, Jesus Christ has so great a
desire to come into our souls, it is also right that we also should
have a great desire to receive Him and His divine love by holy
communion. St. Francis de Sales teaches us that the principal
object which a soul should have in view in communicating should
be to advance in the love of God ; since He Who for love alone
gives Himself to us should be received for love.
ACTS BEFOEE COMMUNION.
Act of Faith\ — " Behold he cometh leaping upon the moun
tains, skipping over the hills" (Cant. ii. 8). Ah, my most
amiable Saviour, over how many, what rough and craggy moun
tains hast Thou had to pass in order to come and unite Thyself to
me by the means of this most holy sacrament! Thou, from
being God, hadst to become man ; from being immense, to be
come a babe; from being Lord, to become a servant. Thou
hadst to pass from the bosom of Thy Eternal Father to the womb
564 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
of a virgin : from heaven into a stable ; from a throne of glory
to the gibbet of a criminal. And on this very morning Thou
wilt come from Thy seat in heaven to dwell in my bosom.
' ' Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the
windows, looking through the lattices" (Cant. ii. 9). Behold,
0 my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with the same love with
which He loved thee when dying for thee on the cross, is
now concealed in the Most Blessed Sacrament under the sacred
species; and what doing? " Looking through the lattices." As
an ardent lover, desirous of seeing His love corresponded with,
from the host, as from within closed lattices, whence He sees
without being seen, He is looking at you, who are this morning
about to feed upon His divine flesh ; He observes your thoughts,
what it is that you love, what you desire, what you seek for, and
what offerings you are about to make Him.
Awake then, my soul, and prepare to receive thy Jesus; and,
in the first place, by faith, say to Him: So then, iny beloved
Redeemer, in a few moments Thou art coming to me? O hidden
God, unknown to the greater part of men, I believe, I confess,
1 adore Thee in tha Most Holy Sacrament as my Lord and Sav
iour ! And in acknowledgment of this truth I would willingly
lay down my life. Thou comest to enrich me with Thy graces,
and to unite Thyself all to me ; how great, then, should be my
confidence in this Thy so loving visit !
Act of Confidence. — My soul, expand thy heart. Thy
Jesus can do thee every good, and, indeed, loves thee. Hope
thou for great things from this thy Lord, Who, urged by love,
comes all love to thee. Yes, my dear Jesus, my hope, I trust
in Thy goodness, that, in giving Thyself to me this morning,
Thou wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful flame of Thy
pure love, and a real desire to please Thee ; so that, from this
day forward, I may never will anything but what Thou wiliest.
Act of Love. — Ah, my God, my God, true and only love
of my soul, and what more couldst Thou have done to be loved
by me? To die for me was not enough for Thee, my Lord;
Thou wast pleased to institute this great sacrament in order
to give Thyself all to me, and thus bind and unite thyself
heart to heart with so loathsome and ungrateful a creature as I
am. And what is more, Thou Thyself invitest me to receive
Thee, and desirest so much that I should do so ! O boundless
DEVOTIONS FOR UOLY COMMUtflOtf. 565
love, incomprehensible love, infinite love, a God would give
Himself all to me !
My soul, belie vest thou this? And what doest thou? what
sayest thou? O God, O God, O infinite amiability, only worthy
object of all loves, I love Thee with my whole heart, I love
Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, more than
my life ! Oh, could I but see Thee loved by all ! Oh, could I
but cause Thee to be loved by all hearts as much as Thou de-
servest! I love Thee, O most amiable God, and I unite my
miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts of the seraphim, to
the heart of the most blessed Virgin Mary, to the heart of
Jesus, Thy most loving and beloved Son. So that, O Infinite
Good, I love Thee with the love with which the saints, with
which Mary, with which Jesus love Thee. And I love' Thee
only because Thou art worthy of it, and to give Thee pleasure.
Depart, all earthly affections, which are not for God, depart
from my heart. Mother of fair love, most holy Virgin Mary,
help me to love that God Whom thou dost so ardently desire to
see loved !
Act of Humility. — Then, my soul, thou art even now
about to feed on the most sacred flesh of Jesus ! And art thou
worthy? My God, who am I, and who art Thou? I in
deed know and confess Who Thou art Who givest Thyself to
me ; but dost Thou know what I am, who am about to receive
Thee?
And is it possible, O my Jesus, that Thou, Who art infinite
purity, desirest to come and reside in this soul of mine, which has
been so many times the dwelling of Thy enemy, and soiled with
so many sins? I know, O my Lord, Thy great majesty and my
misery; I am ashamed to appear before Thee. Eeverence
would induce me to keep at a distance from" Thee ; but if I de
part from Thee, O my life, whither shall I go? to whom shall
I have recourse? and what will become of me? No, never will
I depart from Thee ; nay, even I will ever draw nearer and
nearer to Thee. Thou art satisfied that I should receive Thee as
food, Thou even invitest me to this. I come then, O my amia
ble Saviour, I come to receive Thee this morning, all humbled
and confused at the sight of my defects ; but full of confidence
in Thy tender mercy, and in the love which Thou bearest me.
Act of Contrition. — I am indeed grieved, O God of my
566 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
soul, for not having loved Thee during the time past ; still worse,
so far from loving Thee, and to gratify my own inclinations, I
have greatly offended and outraged Thy infinite goodness : I
have turned my back against Thee, I have despised Thy grace
and friendship; in fine, O my God, I was deliberately in the
will to lose Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and grieve for it with my
whole heart. I detest the sins which I have committed, be
they great or small, as the greatest of all my misfortunes, be
cause I have thereby offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness. I
trust that Thou hast already forgiven me ; but if Thou hast not
yet pardoned me, oh, do so before I receive Thee : wash with
Thy blood this soul of mine, in which Thou art so soon about to
dwell.
Act of Desire. — And now, my soul, the blessed hour has
arrived in which Jesus will come and take up His dwelling in
thy poor heart. Behold the King of heaven, behold thy Re
deemer and God, Who is even now coming ; prepare thyself to
receive Him with love, invite Him with the ardor of thy desire ;
come, O my Jesus, come to my soul, which desires Thee. Be
fore Thou givest Thyself to me, I desire to give Thee, and I
now give Thee, my miserable heart; do Thou accept it, and
come quickly to take possession of it.
Come, my God, hasten; delay no longer. My only and
infinite good, my treasure, my life, my paradise, my love, my
all, my wish is to receive Thee with the love with which the
most holy and loving souls have received Thee ; with that with
which the most blessed Virgin Mary received Thee ; with their
communions I unite this one of mine.
Most holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, behold, I already
approach to receive thy Son. Would that I had the heart and
love with which thou didst communicate ! Give me this morn
ing thy Jesus, as thou didst give Him to the shepherds and to
the kings. I intend to receive Him from thy most pure hands.
Tell Him that I am thy servant and thy client; for He will
thus look upon me with a more loving eye, and, now that He is
coming, will press me more closely to Himself.
SHORTER ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
My beloved Jesus, true Son of God, Who didst die for me
on the cross in a sea of sorrows and ignominy, I firmly believe
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 567
that Thou art present in the Most Holy Sacrament ; and for this
faith I am ready to give up iny life.
My dear Kedeemer, I hope by Thy goodness, and through
the merits of Thy blood, that when Thou dost come to me
this morning Thou wilt inflame me with Thy holy love, and
wilt give me all those graces which I need to keep me obedient
and faithful to Thee till death.
Ah, my God, true and only lover of my soul, what couldst
Thou do more to oblige me to love Thee? Thou wast not satis
fied, my Love, with dying for me, but Thou wouldst also
institute the Most Holy Sacrament, making Thyself my food,
and giving Thyself all to me, thus uniting Thyself most closely
to such a miserable and ungrateful creature. Thou dost Thyself
invite me to receive Thee, and dost greatly desire that I should
receive Thee. O infinite love! A God gives Himself all to
me ! O my God, O Infinite Love, worthy of infinite love, I
love Thee above all things ; I love Thee with all my heart ; I
love Thee more than myself, more than my life ; I love Thee
because Thou art worthy of being loved ; and I love Thee also
to please Thee, since Thou dost desire my love. Depart from
my soul, all ye earthly affections ; to Thee alone, my Jesus, my
treasure, my all, will I give all my love. This morning Thou
dost give Thyself all to me, and I give myself all to Thee. Per
mit me to love Thee ; for I desire none but Thee, and nothing
but what is pleasing to Thee. I love Thee, O my Saviour, and
I unite my poor love to the love of all the angels and saints, and
of Thy Mother Mary, and the love of Thy Eternal Father. Oh,
that I could see Thee loved by all! Oh, that I could make
Thee loved by all men, and loved as much as Thou dost deserve !
Behold, O my Jesus, I am now about to draw near to feed
on Thy most sacred flesh! Ah, my God, who am I? and "Who
art Thou? Thou art a Lord of infinite goodness, and I am a
loathsome worm, defiled by so many sins, and who have driven
Thee out of my soul so often.
Lord, I am not worthy to remain in Thy presence ; I ought
to be in hell forever, far away, and abandoned by Thee. But
out of Thy goodness Thou callest me to receive Thee; be
hold, I come, I come humbled and in confusion for the great
displeasure I have given Thee, but trusting entirely to Thy
inercy and to the love Thou hast for me. I am exceedingly
568 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
sorry, O my loving Redeemer, for having so often offended
Thee in time past. Thou didst even give Thy life for me ;
and I have so often despised Thy grace and Thy love, and
have exchanged Thee for nothing. I repent, and am sorry
with all my heart for every offence which I have offered Thee,
whether grievous or light, because it was an offence against
Thee, "Who art infinite goodness. I hope Thou hast already
pardoned me ; but if Thou hast not yet forgiven me, pardon
me, my Jesus, before I receive Thee. Ah, receive me quickly
into Thy grace, since it is Thy will soon to come and dwell
within me.
Come, then, my Jesus, come into my soul, which sighs after
Thee. My only and infinite good, my life, my love, my all,
I would desire to receive Thee this morning with the same love
with which those souls who love Thee most have received Thee,
and with the same fervor with which Thy most holy Mother
received Thee ; to her communions I wish to unite this one of
mine. O Blessed Virgin and my Mother Mary, give me thy
Son ; I intend to receive Him from thy hands ! Tell Him that
I am thy servant, and thus will He press me more lovingly to
His heart, now that He is coming to me.
PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION.
O compassionate Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, nothing
presuming on my own merits, but trusting in Thy mercy and
goodness, draw near with awe and trembling to the table of Thy
sweetest banquet. For my heart and my body are stained with
many sins, my mind and my tongue have not been kept with
fitting diligence and circumspection. "Wherefore, O compassion
ate Godhead, O dread and awful Majesty, I, Thy wretched
creature, who am fallen into a great strait, betake myself to Thee,
the Fountain of mercy ; to Thee I hasten that I may be healed ;
beneath Thy protection I make my refuge ; I long to have Thee
for my Saviour, before Whom I can in no wise stand as my
Judge. To Thee, O Lord, I now show my wounds; before
Thee I lay bare all this my shame. I know my sins, so many
and so great, by reason of which I am afraid. I hope in Thy
mercies, which are past numbering. Look on me with the eyes
of Thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, everlasting King, God and
man, Who wast crucified for man. Graciously hear me who hope
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 569
in Thee ; have mercy on me who am full of miseries and of sins,
O Thou full and over- flowing Fountain of pity and of mercy.
Hail, Thou saving Yictim, offered for me and all mankind upon
the tree of the cross. Hail, thou noble and precious blood,
which dost ever flow forth from the wounds of my crucified
Lord Jesus Christ, and wash away the sins of the whole world.
Remember Thy creature, O Lord, whom Thou hast redeemed
with Thine own blood. I grieve that I have sinned; I do
earnestly desire to amend what I have done amiss. Wherefore,
O most merciful Father, take away from me all my iniquities
and my sins, that, being cleansed in soul and in body, I may
worthily receive the holy food of the holy ; and grant that the
sacred taste of Thy body and blood, which I unworthy am about
to receive, may be to me the remission of my sins, the perfect
expiation and cleansing of all my faults, and the putting to flight
of evil thoughts, the quickening and renewal of all good feelings,
the healthful energy of all good works, the most assured protec
tion of my body and soul from all the snares of my enemies.
Amen.
PRAYER.
O almighty, everlasting God, behold, I draw near to the
sacrament of Thine only -begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ ;
I draw near as a sick man to the Physician of life, as one de
filed to the Fountain of mercy, as one blind to the Light of
eternal splendor, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven
and earth. Wherefore I implore the fulness of Thine infinite
bounty that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to heal all my sickness, to
wash away my defilement, to give light to my blindness, to
enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, so that I may
receive the bread of angels, the King of kings, and Lord of
lords, with such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith,
such purpose and intention, as may avail to' the welfare and sal
vation of my soul. Grant me, I beseech Thee, to receive not
only the sacrament of the body and blood of my Lord, but also
the very reality and substance of the sacrament. O most gra
cious God, grant me so to receive the body of Thine onlv begotten
Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, that very body which He took of
the Virgin Mary, that I may be truly incorporated into His mys
tical body and so numbered amongst its members. O most lov*
570 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
ing Father, grant me at last to behold face to face and forever-
more the same Thy beloved Son Whom I purpose to receive
now in my pilgrimage beneath the veils of the sacrament.
PRAYER.
For the love of Thee I bitterly grieve for all and every one
of my sins and my negligences whereby I have ever offended and
grieved Thy most tender loving-kindness and polluted my soul
with such loathsome defilement. Oh, would that I could change
the whole sea into blood, and that I could pour its mighty flood
through my head and my heart, that thus that sink of unutter
able abominations might be cleansed, which Thou, my last end,
hast chosen for Thy habitation ! Oh, would that my heart could
be torn from my body and purified in fiercest fire from all
its dross, that thus it might offer Thee an abode, not, alas,
worthy of Thee, but at least not so utterly unworthy.
But why do I disquiet my soul within me, seeing that even
if a thousand years were given me I could not prepare myself
to receive Thee befittingly ? — for of myself I have nothing what
ever which could in any way avail towards so august and solemn
a preparation as beseems Thy adorable majesty. Wherefore, O
most loving Jesus, I cast myself in the dust before Thee in the
humility of my heart, and I beseech Thy clemency to deign so to
prepare me that I may partake of this heavenly banquet to Thy
glory and to the profit of all the whole world. I offer and
abandon to Thy tender pity all my substance, all that I am and
all that I have, earnestly desiring and beseeching Thee that Thou
wouldst Thyself vouchsafe to prepare within me all that is most
pleasing to Thy divine goodness. I offer and abandon to Thee,
O Thou surpassingly sweet lover of my soul, my whole heart, be
seeching Thee that Thou wouldst wash it in that water of mighty
efficacy which flowed from Thy most holy side, and adorn it
for Thine indwelling with the precious blood of Thy most sacred
Heart, and fit it for Thyself with the fragrant incense of Thy
divine love. Amen.
DEVOUT ASPIRATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION.
O my true and perfect Love, what affection is this that
brings Thee to such a miserable thing as I? Come, yes, come,
desired of my heart ; my soul sighs for Thee ; I offer to Thee,
O my God, this communion, to satisfy the desire Thou hast to
DEVOTIONS FOE HOLY COMMUNION. 571
come and unite me to Thyself, my God, and my all. Oh, what
a wonder ! A God descends from heaven for me, and hides His
majesty under the vile clothing of the species of bread and wine !
Oh, how true it is, my Lord, that, having always loved Thine
own, Thou hast loved them especially at the end, when Thou
didst institute this divine sacrament.
O my God, Thou art goodness itself ; how, then, is it possi
ble that I can love anything else but Thee? Ah, Lord, draw
me always closer and closer into Thy heart. I prefer Thy love
and Thy goodness above all that is to be found in the world.
Thou art the only object of my affections. I wish for none
other but Thee. I will leave all in order to love Thee. Give
me grace to do it ; without that I can do nothing.
Ah, my Beloved, if Thou wouldst have me look to Thee, do
Thou first turn to me, and by Thy Spirit draw mine to Thee.
I am nothing, I can do nothing, I am worth nothing ; therefore
let me not be ungrateful for all the graces that Thou hast
deigned to grant to me. I offer myself for Thy love, to be
entirely deprived of every sensible consolation, and to suffer all
the afflictions Thou shalt be pleased to send me, whether in time
or eternity. I am, and will be, all Thine ; I dare to ask Thee
not only for Thy gifts, but also for Thyself. I desire to receive
Thee, to be more united to Thee.
O Eternal Father, I offer to Thee the passion of Thy Son
for my salvation and that of the whole world. Look not at my
sins ; but look at the love of Thy beloved Son towards us which
has drawn Him into this sacrament. By this love, my God,
have pity on me !
My Eedeemer, I acknowledge myself to be infinitely un
worthy of approaching to receive Thee, by reason of my sins
and my want of purity. Therefore I say to Thee, Lord, I am
not worthy. Even if I had all the love of the seraphim, I
should still be unfit to receive Thee; again, then, I repeat,
Lord, I am not worthy.
Come, O my sweet Saviour, and work in me that which
Thou dost come to me to do. I am nothing but wretchedness ;
but Thy goodness does not let Thee see my misery. Come into
my soul and sanctify it ; take possession of my heart and purify
it ; enter into my body and keep it ; and never separate me from
Thy love.
572 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
Burn, O consuming Fire, all Thou dost see in me unworthy
of Thy presence, and that may put an obstacle to Thy grace and
love. O Mother of my Kedeemer, have compassion on me, a
poor sinner ; pray for me, that by thy help I may embrace thy
Son with perfect love, and become a soul after His own heart.
AT COMMUNION.
When the moment comes to approach the railing, excite in
your heart a new act of contrition while the " Confiteor " is re
cited and the priest pronounces the absolution, in order to merit
more and more the remission of your sins, and obtain a perfect
purity to receive the spotless Lamb.
At the Agnus Dei, and Domine, non sum dignus, pour forth
your heart in sentiments of love, confusion, joy, respect, self-
immolation, and tenderness. Say interiorly :
" Whence comes it that this Lamb of God, that this God of
purity and majesty, can vouchsafe to lower Himself to me, so
unworthy of His presence? Yes, Lord, I do not deserve that
Thou shouldst come to me ; say but the word, and my soul shall
be healed."
Communicate with these sentiments and the religious feeling
which faith inspires, and after receiving this sacred pledge of
your salvation retire with respectful and religious modesty, and
remain some time in sweet and respectful silence, with eyes
closed or cast down, to avoid distraction.
DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY
COMMUNION.
The daily bread which we ask of God in the Lord's Prayer
is either bread for our bodies, or the divine Eucharist, which is
the bread of our souls. Hence, however anxious others may be
in asking for that earthly bread, let us beseech the Eternal Father
to give us grace to ask of Him our celestial bread. And as the
eyes of the body cannot have the delight of beholding Him, be
cause He is veiled, let us ask Him to discover Himself to the
eyes of our soul, and to make Himself known to be that most
pleasant and delicious food which can alone preserve our lives.
Now, if, when He lived in this world, He healed the sick by
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 573
the mere touch of His garments, how can we doubt that He
will grant us whatever we ask of Him while He is actually in
our house ? His majesty is not wont to be a bad paymaster ;
let us, then, only give Him fitting entertainment. If you are
troubled at not seeing Him with your corporal eyes, consider it
is not expedient for us; for it is one thing to see Him glorified,
and quite another to behold Him as He was when He lived and
conversed on earth. Such is our weak nature that we could
not endure it ; the world itself would be moved, nor would any
one be able to stay in it, because by the vision of this eternal
truth it would evidently appear that all those things which we
value here are a lie and a cheat. And how should such a sinner
as I am, who have so highly offended Him, dare to behold Him,
or to be so near Him? He is accessible under those accidents
of bread ; for if the King be disguised we are able to converse
with Him without the wonted ceremonies and reverences, and it
even appears that He is obliged to suffer this, because He has not
made Himself known. But if Our Lord were to manifest Him
self visibly, who would dare to approach Him with such tepidity,
such unworthiness, and with so many imperfections as ours?
Let us stay, then, willingly with Him, nor lose so fair an
opportunity of treating with Him ; for the time after communion
is the best for conversing with Him. Consider that it is fraught
with the richest blessings to the soul, and that our good Jesus
then delights much in our company. Take heed, then, that you
leave Him not. If obedience calls you to some other duty, en
deavor that your soul at least may be still with Our Lord ; your
Master will not fail to teach you at this time, though you under
stand not how; but if you immediately fix your thoughts on
something else, and you heed Him not, nor regard Him Who is
within you, then complain of no one but yourselves.
This, then, is the fitting time for our Master to teach us, and
for us to hear Him and to kiss His feet, because He has been
pleased thus to instruct us ; beseeching Him not to depart from
us.
After you have received Our Lord, endeavor then to shut
the eyes of the body, to open those of the soul, since you then
possess His very person within you ; for I tell you again, and
would repeat it continually, that if you adhere to this practice
as often as you communicate, and endeavor to keep your con-
4 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
science pure, so that you may be admitted frequently to the
enjoyment of this blessing, He will not come so disguised but,
as I have said, He will make Himself known in manifold ways,
according to our desire to see Him ; and our desire should be
that He would wholly reveal Himself to us. But if we make no
account of Him, and, after we have received Him, go away from
Him to seek after base earthly things, what can He do for us?
Must He drag us by force to seek Him because He loves to be
known by us? No; for men did not treat Him well when He
openly exposed Himself to the gaze of all, and told them plainly
Who He was ; there were very few who believed Him. It is,
therefore, a great mercy which He shows to us when He makes
us understand that it is He Who is present in the Most Holy
Sacrament ; but He wills not to be seen openly, nor to communi
cate His favors and bestow His graces, except on His true friends,
who, He knows, earnestly desire Him. Therefore let not any
but such as thus lovingly and reverently approach Him venture
to importune Oar Lord to manifest Himself to them.
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION.
There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable
to the soul, than that which is made during the thanksgiving
after communion.
It is not advisable, as many do, to begin to read immediately
after communion : it is then better to spend at least a short time
in producing holy affections, and in conversing with Jesus, Who
is then within us, and in repeating many times words of tender
ness, or some feeling prayer. In affections and prayers it is,
then, that the soul should entertain itself with Jesus after com
munion ; for we must know that the acts formed in prayer after
communion are far more precious and meritorious in the sight of
God than when made at another time ; for the soul being then
united with Jesus, the value of the acts is increased by the
presence of Jesus. We should, moreover, know that after
communion Jesus Christ is more disposed to grant graces. St.
Teresa says that after communion Jesus places Himself in the
soul as on a throne of grace, and then says : ' ' What wiliest thou
that I should do for thee? » meaning, O soul, I am come for
the express purpose of granting thee graces ; ask Me what thou
wilt, and as much as thou wiliest, thou shalt receive all.
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 575
Oh, what treasures of grace would you receive, devout soul,
if you only entertained yourself with Jesus for an hour, or at
least half an hour, after communion ! For this purpose you can
read the following acts. Be also careful after your prayer is
ended to keep yourself during the whole day on which you have
communicated united by affections and prayers with Jesus,
Whom you have received.
ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
Act of Faith. — Behold, my God is even now come to visit
me, my Saviour to dwell in my soul. My Jesus is even now
within me. He is come to make Himself mine, and at the same
time to make me His. So that Jesus is mine, and I belong to
Jesus; Jesus is all mine, and I am all His.
O infinite Goodness! O infinite Mercy! O infinite Love!
that a God should come to unite Himself to me, and to make
Himself all mine! My soul, now that thou art thus closely
bound to Jesus, that thou art thus one with Him, what dost thou?
Hast thou nothing to say to Him? dost thou not converse with
thy God, Who is with thee? Ah, yes, renew thy faith; remem
ber that the angels now surround thee, adoring their God, Who
is within thy breast ; do thou also adore thy Lord within thyself.
Enter into thyself, and banish thence every other thought. Unite
all thy affections together, and, clinging closely to thy God, say :
An Act of Welcome. — Ah, my Jesus, my Love, my infi
nite Good, my All, be ever welcome in the poor dwelling of my
soul ! Ah, my Lord, where art Thou? to what a place art Thou
come? Thou hast entered my heart, which is far worse than the
stable in which Thou wast born ; it is full of earthly affections,
of self-love, and of inordinate desires. And how couldst Thou
come to dwell there? I would address Thee with St. Peter:
" Depart from me, for I am a sinful man " (Luke v. 8). Yes,
depart from me, O Lord, for I am indeed unworthy to receive a
God of infinite goodness ; go and find repose in those pure souls
who serve Thee with so much love. But no, my Eedeemer ;
what do I say ? Leave me not ; for if Thou departest I am lost.
I embrace Thee, my Life ; I cling to Thee. Mad indeed have I
been in having separated myself from Thee for the love of creat
ures ; and in my ingratitude I drove Thee from me. But now
I will nevermore separate myself from Thee, my Treasure ; I
576 DEVOTIONS FOB HOLY COMMUNION".
desire to live and die united to Thee. Most blessed Virgin
Mary, seraphim, and all souls, do you who love God with pure
love lend me your affections, that I may worthily attend on rny
beloved Lord.
Act of Thanksgiving. — My God and Lord, I thank Thee
for the grace which Thou hast this morning bestowed upon me,
of coming to dwell in my soul; but I would wish to thank
Thee in a manner worthy of Thee and of the great favor which
Thou hast done me. Bat what do I say? how can such a miser
able creature as I am ever worthily thank Thee?
One of Thy servants says that the feeling most becoming a
soul who communicates is that of wrondering astonishment at the
thought, and to repeat: "A God is united to me; a God is
mine!" David said: "What shall I render to the Lord for
all the things that He hath rendered to me?" (Ps. cxv. 12.)
But I ; what return shall I make to Thee, my Jesus, Who, after
having given me so many of Thy good things, hast this morn
ing, moreover, given me Thyself? My soul, bless, then, and
thank thy God as best thou canst. And thou, my Mother Mary,
my holy advocates, my guardian angel, and all ye souls who love
God, ' ' come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you
what great things He hath done for my soul" (Ps. Ixv. 16).
Come and bless and thank my God for me, admiring and prais
ing the indeed great graces which He has granted me.
Act of Oblation. — uMy Beloved to me, and I to Him"
(Cant. ii. 16). Should a king go to visit a poor shepherd in
his hut, what can the shepherd offer him other than his whole
hut, such as it is? Since, then, O Jesus, my divine King, Thou
hast come to visit the poor house of my soul, I offer and give Thee
this house and my entire self, together with my liberty and will :
"My Beloved to me, and I to Him." Thou hast given Thyself
all to me ; I give myself all to Thee. My Jesus, from this day
forward I will be no longer mine ; I will be Thine, and all Thine.
May my senses ,be Thine, that they may only serve me to please
Thee. And what greater pleasure, says St. Peter of Alcantara,
can be found than that of pleasing Thee, most amiable, most
loving, most gracious God? I at the same time give Thee all
the powers of my soul, and I will that they shall be all Thine ;
my memory I will only use to recall to mind Thy benefits and
Thy love ; my understanding I will only use to think of Thee,
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 577
Who always thinkest of my good ; my will I will only use to love
Thee, my God, my all, and to will only that which Thou wili
est. My most sweet Lord, I offer, then, and consecrate to Thee
this morning all that I am and have — my senses, my thoughts,
my affections, my desires, my pleasures, my inclinations, my lib
erty; in a word, I place my whole body and soul in Thy hands.
Accept, O infinite Majesty, the sacrifice of the hitherto most
ungrateful sinner Thou hast ever had on earth; but who now
offers and gives himself all to Thee. Do with me and dispose
of me, O Lord, as Thou pleasest.
Come, O consuming Fire, O divine Love ! and consume in
me all which is mine, and which is displeasing in Thy most pure
eyes, so that from henceforward I may be all Thine, and may live
only to execute, not Thy commands and counsels alone, but all
Thy holy desires and good pleasure also. Amen.
O most holy Mary, do thou present this offering of mine to
the Most Blessed Trinity with thine own hands; and do thou
obtain Their acceptance of it, and that They may grant me the
grace to be faithful unto death. Amen, amen, amen.
Act of Petition — O my soul, what art thou doing? The
present is no time to be lost : it is a precious time, in which thou
canst receive all the graces which thou askest. Seest thou not
the Eternal Father, "Who is lovingly beholding thee? for within
thee He sees his beloved Son, the dearest object of His love.
Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts; rekindle thy
faith, enlarge thy heart, and ask for whatever thou wiliest.
Hearest thou not Jesus Himself, Who thus addresses thee :
"What wilt thou that I should do to thee?" (Mark x. 51.)
O soul, tell Me, what dost thou desire of Me? I am come for
the express purpose of enriching and gratifying thee ; ask with
confidence, and thou wilt receive all.
Ah ! my most sweet Saviour, since Thou hast come into my
heart in order to grant me graces, and desirest that I should ask
Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the goods of the earth —
riches, honors, or pleasures — but grant me, I beseech Thee, in
tense sorrow for the displeasures I have caused Thee ; impart to
me so clear a light that I may know the vanity of this world,
and how deserving Thou art of love. Change this heart of
mine, detach it from all earthly affections ; give me a heart con
formable in all things to Thy holy will, that it may seek only
578 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION".
for that which is most pleasing to Thee, and have no other desire
than Thy holy love. " Create a clean heart in me, O God " (Ps.
1. 12).
I deserve not this ; but Thou, my Jesus, deservest it, since
Thou art come to dwell in my soul : I ask it of Thee through
Thy merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother, and by the love
which thou bearest to Thy Eternal Father.
[Here pause to ask Jesus for some other particular grace for
yourself and for your neighbors. Do not forget poor sinners, or
the souls in purgatory.]
Eternal Father, Jesus Christ Himself, Thy Son, has said,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in
My name, He will give it you." For the love, then, of this
Son, Whom I now hold within my breast, do Thou graciously
hear me, and grant my petition.
My most sweet loves, Jesus and Mary, may I suffer for you,
may I die for you ; may I be all yours, and in nothing my own !
May the Most Blessed Sacrament ever be thanked and praised !
Blessed be the holy and immaculate conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary !
SHORTER ACTS OF THANKSGIVING.
Lo ! my Jesus, Thou hast come, Thou art now within me,
and hast made Thyself all mine. Be Thou welcome, my beloved
Redeemer. I adore Thee, and cast myself at Thy feet ; I em
brace Thee, I press Thee to my heart, and thank Thee for
having deigned to enter into my breast. O Mary, O my
patron saints, 0 my guardian angel, do you all thank Him for
me ! Since, then, my divine King, Thou art come to visit me
with so much love, I give Thee my will, my liberty, and my
whole self. Thou hast given Thyself all to me, I will give my
self all to Thee ; I will no longer belong to myself ; from this
day forward I will be Thine, and altogether Thine. I desire
that my soul, my body, my faculties, my senses, should be all
Thine, that they may be employed in serving and pleasing
Thee. To Thee I consecrate all my thoughts, my desires, my
affections, and all my life. I have offended Thee enough, my
Jesus; I desire to spend the remainder of my life in loving
Thee, Who hast loved me so much.
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 579
Accept, O God of my soul, the sacrifice which I, a miserable
sinner, make to Thee, and who desires only to love and please
Thee. Work Thou in me, and dispose of me, and of all tilings
belonging to me, as Thou pleasest. May Thy love destroy in me
all those affections which are displeasing to Thee, that I may be
all Thine, and may live only to please Thee.
I ask Thee not for goods of this world, for pleasures, for
honors ; give me, I pray Thee, by the merits of Thy passion,
O my Jesus, a constant sorrow for my sins ! Enlighten me, and
make me know the vanity of worldly goods, and how much Thou
dost deserve to be loved. Separate me from all attachment to
the world, and bind me entirely to Thy love, that from hence
forth my will may neither seek nor desire anything but what
Thou wiliest. Give me patience and resignation in infirmities, in
poverty, and in all those things which are contrary to my self-
love. Make me gentle towards those who despise me. Give
me a holy death. Give me Thy holy love. And above all I
pray Thee to give me perseverance in Thy grace till death ; never
permit me to separate myself from Thee again. And I also ask
of Thee the grace always to have recourse to Thee, and to invoke
Thy aid, O my Jesus, in all my temptations; and the grace to
ask Thee always for holy perseverance.
O Eternal Father, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, has promised that
Thou wilt grant me everything that I shall ask of Thee in His
name : "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will
give it you. ' ' In the name, therefore, and by the merits of this
Thy Son, I ask for Thy love and holy perseverance, that I may
one day love Thee in heaven with all my strength, and sing
Thy mercies forever, secure of nevermore being separated from
Thee.
O most holy Mary, my mother and my hope, obtain for me
these graces which I so desire, as also a great love for thee, my
queen; may I always commend myself to thee in all my
necessities.
PRATER OF ST. GERTRUDE.
Wherefore, O Christ Jesus, in union with that all-transcend
ing love wherewith Thou didst most gratefully refer back to
their unfathomable source all those streams which flowed forth
from the Divinity upon Thy deified humanity, I offer Thee, with
580 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
the love of the whole universe of Thy creatures, this most holy
sacrament, which the all-powerful sweetness of Thine unsearcha
ble divinity drew forth from the depth of Thy loving heart,
and which Thou hast now vouchsafed to impart to me, beseech
ing Thee, with the affections and the yearning desire of all
creatures, that Thou wouldst draw up this holy sacrament and
communion into Thyself through the love of Thy good and gentle
spirit, that it may render Thee that eternal, immense, unceasing,
unfaltering praise which Thy inscrutable wisdom knoweth to
beseem the transcendent majesty of God the Father, and to
gladden and rejoice the goodness of Thine unutterably gracious
spirit ; that it may be to Thee a full and adequate thanksgiving
for all the good and all the grace which Thou hast ever wrought,
or shalt ever hereafter work, in the hearts and souls of those who
duly receive this divine sacrament ; that it may make Thee full
reparation and satisfaction for all things wherein my careless
preparation, my feeble desire, or my languid devotion have im
paired its effect within me ; and lastly, that it may give Thee
highest praise and thanks for Thine incomprehensible goodness
by which Thou hast deigned to admit me, a vile worm of earth,
to this royal banquet of heavenly delights. And seeing that my
nothingness can make Thee no return for this Thine unimagin
able goodness, I offer to Thee now Thy sweetest heart, with all
that fulness of gratitude and manifold and consummate blessed
ness which render it supremely, transcendently, forever, and
alone worthy of Thee. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION.
I give thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal
God, that Thou hast vouchsafed, for no merit of my own, but
for the mere condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me, a sinner
and Thine unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood
of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I implore Thee, let not
this holy communion be to me an increase of guilt unto my
punishment, but an availing plea unto pardon and forgiveness.
Let it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of good will.
<rrant that it may work the extinction of my vices, the rooting
out of concupiscence and lust, and the increase within me of
charity and patience, of humility and obedience. Let it be my
DEVOTIONS FOB HOLY COMMUNION. 581
strong defence against the snares of all my enemies, visible and
invisible ; the stilling and the calm of all my impulses, carnal
and spiritual ; my indissoluble union with Thee, the one and true
God, and a blessed consummation at my last end. And I beseech
Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me, sinner as I am,
to that ineffable banquet where Thou, with the Son and the
Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true and unfailing light, fulness
of content, joy for evermore, gladness without alloy, consum
mate and everlasting bliss.
PRAYER.
O sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, pierce, I beseech Thee, the
inmost marrow of my soul with the tender and life-giving wound
of Thy love, with true, and calm, and holy apostolical charity,
so that my whole soul may ever languish and faint for love of
Thee, and for desire of Thee alone. May it long for Thee and
pine for Thee in the courts of Thy house ; may it desire to be
dissolved and to be with Thee. Grant that my soul may hun
ger for Thee, Thou Bread of angels, Thou Refreshment of holy
souls, our daily supersubstantial Bread, having all manner of
sweetness and savor, and all most thrilling delights. May my
heart ever hunger for Thee and feed on Thee, on Whom angels
long to look; and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweet
ness of the taste of Thee. May it ever thirst for Thee, Thou
well of life, Thou fountain of wisdom and knowledge, Thou
source of everlasting light, Thou torrent of pleasures, Thou fat
ness and abundance of the house of God ; may it ever yearn
towards Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, tend towards Thee, attain
to Thee, meditate ever on Thee, speak of Thee, and work all
things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and
discretion, with love and delight, with ready care and glad affec
tion, with perseverance even unto the end ; and do Thou be
alone and evermore my hope, my whole trust, my riches, my
delight, my gladness and my joy, my rest and my calm repose,
my peace and my sweet content, my fragrance and my sweet
ness, my food and my refreshment, my refuge and my help, my
wisdom, my portion, my own possession and my treasure, in
Whom my mind and my heart are fixed and rooted firmly and
immovably for evermore. Amen.
582 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
ASPIRATIONS OF LOVE AFTER COMMUNION.
0 excess of love! Sacred host, I adore thee within me.
One heart is too little to love Thee, my Jesus ; one tongue is
not enough to praise Thy goodness. O my Saviour, how great
are my obligations to Thee for visiting such a poor creature as
I am ! I offer myself all to Thee in gratitude for so great a
favor.
No, I will no longer live in myself, but that Jesus alone
should live in me. He is mine, and I am His, for all eternity.
Oh, love, love; no more sins! I will never forget the good
ness and mercy of God, my Saviour and my guest. Yes, my
God, I firmly believe that Thou, body and soul, art in my
breast : Thy divinity is now within me, and united to me.
1 adore Thee, and I venerate Thee, as if I were the smallest
worm crawling along in the dust of its own nothingness, to tes
tify the desire I have to give Thee glory. But is it possible
that Thy infinite majesty should have deigned to visit the least
of Thy creatures? "With a softened heart, my dear Saviour, I
thank Thee for this great gift. I thank Thee for it a thous
and times. Grant that I may thank Thee for it as Thou
dost deserve. May Thy most holy Mother, and all the angels
and saints, give Thee thanks for it ! On my part I offer Thee
all the praises and thanksgivings that have been and ever shall
be offered to Thee by all creatures.
O my God, Thou dost come to unite Thyself to me, to apply
to my soul more abundantly the merits of Thy passion, and to
sanctify me. Accomplish in me, then, all that Thou didst come
to do. My God, Thou art all- wise and all-powerful ; let not
the fruit of Thy coming be lost : unite Thyself to me, and me
to Thee, by an inseparable union and a perfect love. Unite the
abyss of Thy mercy with the abyss of my misery, and make me
live a life all divine.
My Jesus, Thou knowest what is wanting in me; Thou
knowest that without Thee I can do nothing; Thou knowest
my weakness : have pity on me ; give me humility, purity of
heart, love and conformity to Thy holy will, strength against
my bad habits, remission of my sins, and grace nevermore to
commit them. Give me a thorough contempt for all things, so
that I may love none other but Thee. Give me patience to
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 583
suffer for Thy love all that may happen to me. I hope all from
Thee. O most holy Virgin, my dear mother, beg of thy Son,
by the love He bears thee, to grant me, for thy sake, all I ask.
My God and my only Good, I am more pleased in Thy
infinite perfections than if they were my own. I rejoice that
nothing in the world can take them from Thee, or diminish
them. Come, then, Thou art always welcome; always perfect
and infinite in Thy majesty, O my Jesus, my Love, and my God.
Come and make me all Thine.
My Saviour, by that infinite goodness which made Thee
come down to this earth, I pray Thee let me experience the
effects of Thy love in feeling my soul so absorbed in Thee
that, despising all earthly things, it may see nothing but Thee,
and think of nothing but Thee ; that the same love which made
Thee die for me on the cross may make me in like manner die in
Thee, to live in Thee for all eternity.
0 God of my soul, Who meritest to be loved above all
creatures, I protest that I hold Thee as the only object of my
affections, and I prefer Thee to all the goods of the world, and
to myself. I desire to be faithful to Thee, and nevermore to
see myself separated from Thee.
1 resign and abandon myself entirely to Thee, embracing
with all affection and respect Thy will, and Thy just designs
over me. And I pray that whatever Thou hast ordained con
cerning me in time and in eternity may be accomplished ; but I
hope one day to see Thy divine face and Thy infinite beauty.
My God, draw me to Thee, to love Thee and to burn with Thy
love, by which I would be entirely consumed. Hide me, I
pray Thee, in Thyself, that no creature may ever be able to find
me again. O Eternal Father, for the love of Thy Son, fill my
memory with holy thoughts, which shall constrain it to have a
continual remembrance of Thee and of Thy Son. Oh, make me
know and do all that Thou desirest of me. And Thou, O Holy
Spirit, fill my will with holy affections, that shall bring forth all
those fruits which proceed from Thy love. Illuminate me with
Thy light ; so shall I walk straight to Thee, and my will shall
be no longer free to give itself to any but Thee.
My God and my all, I will no more seek anything out of
Thee, now that I can find all things in Thee. O merciful Fa
ther, make me have a care for Thy service, as Thou hast had so
584 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
much for my good. I wish to employ all my thoughts in seek
ing ways to please Thee, and in preserving me from offending
Thee any more.
O incarnate Lord, make me love Thee, and none other than
Thee. Remove from me all occasions which might drive me
from Thy love. Let my heart be always occupied in contem
plating Thee and serving Thee, Thou that art the master-love
of all hearts. Thou didst but come into the world to dwell in
the hearts Thou hadst redeemed with Thy blood ; then may my
heart be all Thine, do Thou possess it. See, then, all my wants,
and enlighten me ; excite me and make me prompt to obey Thy
will.
O Jesus Almighty, take from me» all that can hinder the
effects of Thy power and goodness. I renounce my liberty, and
consecrate it entirely to the designs of Thy will. Have pity on
me, and cure me of all my impurities and infidelity ; fill me
with Thy grace and wisdom. I abandon myself wholly to Thee,
O my Jesus ; I wish to be all Thine, I wish to employ myself
with fervor for Thy glory, and to suffer patiently all tribula
tions at the sight of Thy sufferings. Enable me to employ my
self solely in things that are pleasing to Thee. My God, let me
discern Thee with a true faith, to know Thee and love Thee ;
let me know Thy will to fulfil it, let me see myself to confess
my deformity, to abhor and humble myself ; and in the end let
me see Thy divine face in all eternity. Lord, I have wasted
my substance, like the prodigal son ; but I have not been able
to exhaust Thy mercies. Grant that I may take Thy will for
the sole guide of my life, and not my own senses nor human
respect. Write in my heart the law of Thy love so deeply that
it may never be effaced.
My God, even if there were no place of torment for the
wicked, I would not leave off loving Thee, and suffering for
Thee. Make me correspond to Thy desires. From this time
forth Thou shalt be my portion forever. I submit myself with
confidence to all that Thou shalt ordain for me in time and in
eternity. O incarnate "Word, wash my heart with Thy blood,
and imprint there, as a sign of Thy love, Thy holy name of
Jesus.
Lord, abandon me not into the power of my vices ; remem
ber that I am the work of Thy hands ; permit me not to become
DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 585
the prey of demons. I am a sinner, it is true, but I have been
redeemed by Thy blood. Eternal Father, look at the passion of
Thy Son, Whose merits sue mercy for me ; these I offer to Thee ;
by these do Thou detach me from worldly affections and fill me
with Thy love, and make me die with resignation, with faith,
with confidence, and with perfect love.
O my Jesus, by that eternal love which Thou hast borne me,
give me grace to love Thee during the short time that remains
for me to live on this earth, that I may afterwards love Thee
eternally in heaven. O God of love, make me live only for Thee.
"When shall I be all Thine, as Thou art all mine? When shall
I die to myself, to live only for Thy love? I do not even know
how to give myself to Thee as I ought. Ah, my God, take me,
and make me all Thine !
My God, I wish for my sight only to look at Thee ; for my
tongue only to speak of Thee ; for my heart only to love Thee ;
for my body only to offer it to Thee ; for my life only to sacri
fice it to Thee. O God of love, give me Thy love. Infinite
Power, help my weakness. Eternal Wisdom, enlighten my dark
ness. Immense Goodness, pardon my malice. O infinite Good
ness, too late have I loved and known Thee ; do with me what
Thou pleasest ; I wish for nothing but wThat Thou shalt do.
O Blessed Virgin, I rejoice with thee in that thou hast gained
the heart of thy God ; ah, unite me wholly to thy Son, speak to
Him for me, and obtain for me the grace of following all His
inspirations. Thou must teach me to practise the virtues thou
didst exercise on earth, and detach me from affection to all that
is not God, that I may love Him with all my strength.
My God, enkindle Thy love in me, so that I may seek noth
ing else but Thy pleasure ; so that nothing may please me that
does not please Thee ; and drive from my heart all things that
are not agreeable to Thee. May I always be able to say with
true affection : My God, Thee alone do I desire, and nothing
more. My Jesus, give me a great love for Thy passion, that
Thy sufferings and Thy death being always before my eyes
may continually excite my love towards Thee, and make me
desirous of rendering Thee some token of gratitude for so much
love. Give me also a great love to the Most Holy Sacrament of
the Altar, in which Thou hast revealed the great affection Thou
dost bear us. Besides this, I beg of Thee to give me a tender
586 DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.
devotion to Thy most holy Mother : give me grace always to love
and serve her; always to have recourse to her intercession, and
to induce others to honor her ; and to give me and to all men a
great confidence, first in the merits of Thy passion, and next in
the intercession of Mary.
I pray Thee to grant me a holy death. Enable me at that
moment to receive Thee with great love in the most holy Viati
cum ; so that, united to Thee, burning with a holy fire, and
with a great desire of seeing Thee, I may go forth from this life
to embrace Thy feet the first time it shall be given me to see
Thee.
O my King, come and reign alone in my soul; do Thou
possess it entirely, that it may not serve nor obey anything but
Thy love.
O my Jesus, would that I could annihilate myself all for
Thee, Who hast annihilated all Thy life for me !
O Lamb of God, sacrificed on the cross, remember that I
am one of those souls that Thou hast redeemed with so much
suffering and grief. Let me never lose Thee. Thou hast given
Thyself all to me, let me be all Thine ; let all my eagerness be to
please Thee. I love Thee, O immense Good, in order to please
Thee ; I love Thee because Thou art worthy of it : my greatest
sorrow is to think I have been so long in the world without
loving Thee.
My beloved Redeemer, make me feel the grief Thou hadst
for my sins in the Garden of Gethsemani. O my Jesus,
would that I had died before, and had never offended Thee ! O
love of my Jesus, Thou art my love and my hope! I will
rather lose my life a thousand times than lose Thy grace.
My God, if I had died when I was in sin, I could never love
Thee again : I thank Thee for giving me time, and calling me
to love Thee. Now, then, that I can love Thee, I will love
Thee with all my soul. For this reason hast Thou borne with
me, that I should love Thee ; yes, I will love Thee.
Ah, by the blood which Thou hast shed for me, permit me
not to betray Thee again: "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped:
I shall not be confounded forever." What is the world? what
are riches? what are pleasures? what are honors? God, God, I
will have God alone. My God, Thou art sufficient for me,
Thou art an infinite good.
PBAYEES FOE THE STATIONS. 587
O my Jesus, bind me altogether to Thy love, and draw all
my affections to Thee, that I may love none other but Thee ;
make me all Thine before I die.
Ah, my God, as long as I live I am in danger of losing Thee.
When shall the day come that I can say to Thee : My Jesus I
cannot lose Thee more?
O Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, despise me
not ; accept of me to love Thee, and do Thou give me Thy love.
I wish to love Thee much in this life, that I may love Thee
much in the next.
O infinite Good, I love Thee; but make me know the great
good that I love, and give me such a love as Thou dost desire.
May I conquer all things to please Thee !
O Mary, of thee, who so much desirest to see thy Son
beloved, do I ask this grace, to love Him during all the remain
der of my life ; and I desire nothing more. My lady and my
mother, I trust in thee ; thou dost obtain all thou dost ask of thy
God ; thou dost pray for all who are devoted to thee, pray also
for me.
praters tor tbe Stations,
OR THE WAY OF THE CROSS.
PKEPAEATOEY PEAYEE.
The priest and acolytes, kneeling before the altar, pray as follows :
s^\ JESUS, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at Thy feet,
" imploring Thy mercy for ourselves, and for the souls of
all the faithful ^parted. Vouchsafe to apply to us the infinite
merits of Thy passion, on which we are now about to meditate.
Grant that while we trace this path of sighs and tears our hearts
may be so touched with contrition and repentance that we may
be ready to embrace with joy all the crosses and sufferings and
humiliations of this our life land pilgrimage.
V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord.
R. And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
~V. O God, come to my assistance.
It. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be, etc.
R. As it was, etc.
588 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
Then moving in procession to the first station, the following verside and
response are said or sung :
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
H. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
FIEST STATION.
JESUS CHRIST CONDEMNED TO DEATH.
The Priest reads :
Leaving the house of Caiphas, where He had been bias-
FIRST STATION.— JESUS is CONDEMNED TO SECOND STATION.— JESUS is MADE TO BEAR
DKATH. His CROSS.
phemed, and the house of Herod, where He had been mocked,
Jesus is dragged before Pilate, His back torn with scourges, His
head crowned with thorns ; and He Who on the last day will
judge the living and the dead is Himself condemned to a dis
graceful death.
Prayer.
It was for us that Thou didst suffer, O blessed Jesus ; it was
for our sins Thou wast condemned to die. Oh, grant that we
may detest them from the bottom of our hearts, and by this re
pentance obtain Thy mercy and pardon.
PKAYERS FOB THE STATIONS. 589
AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
O God, we love Thee with our whole hearts and above all
things, and we are heartily sorry that we have offended Thee.
May we never offend Thee any more. Oh, may we love Thee
without ceasing, and make it our delight to do in all things Thy
most holy will.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, etc.
V. Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Have mercy upon us.
V. May the souls of the faithful, etc.
B. Amen.
This Act of Contrition and the Our Father, etc., are to be
repeated after each station.
While passing from one station to another a verse of the STABAT MATER
is sung or said.
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
If many persons perform the VIA CRUCIS, the priest, or a
part of the people, may sing the verses in order, and the rest of
the people repeat after each verse :
Holy Mother! pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.
SECOND STATION.
JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR THE CROSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
A heavy cross is laid upon the bruised shoulders of Jesus.
He receives it with meekness, nay, with a secret joy, for it ii
the instrument with which He is to redeem the world.
Prayer.
O Jesus, grant us, by virtue of Thy cross, to embrace with
meekness and cheerful submission the difficulties of our state,
and to be ever ready to take up our cross and follow Thee.
590
PEAYEES FOE THE STATIONS.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.
Holy Mother, etc.
THIRD STATION.
JESUS FALLS THE FIKST TIME UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE CEOSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
Bowed down under the weight of the cross, Jesus slowly sets
THIRD STATION.— JESUS FALLS FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
FOURTH STATION.— JESUS is MET BY His
BLESSED MOTHER.
forth on the way to Calvary, amidst the mockeries and insults
of the crowd. His agony in the garden has exhausted His
body; He is sore with blows and wounds; His strength fails
Him ; He falls to the ground under the cross.
Prayer.
O Jesus, Who for our sins didst bear the heavy burden of
the cross, and didst fall under its weight, may the thoughts of
PEAYEKS FOR THE STATIONS. 591
Thy sufferings make us watchful over ourselves, and save us
from any grievous fall into sin.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blest
Of the sole-begotten One !
Holy Mother, etc.
FOURTH STATION.
JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
Still burdened with His cross, and wounded yet more by
His fall, Jesus proceeds on His way. He is met by His Mother.
What a meeting must that have been ! What a sword of anguish
must have pierced that Mother's bosom ! What must have been
the compassion of that Son for His holy Mother !
Prayer.
O Jesus, by the compassion which Thou didst feel for Thy
Mother, have compassion on us, and give us a share in her in
tercession. O Mary, most afflicted Mother! intercede for us,
that through the sufferings of thy Son we may be delivered
from the wrath to come.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Christ above in torments hangs ;
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.
Holy Mother, etc.
FIFTH STATION.
THE CROSS 1 < LAID UPON SIMON OF GYRENE.
V. We adore The*-, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
It. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
As the strength of Fesus fails, and He is unable to proceed,
the executioners seize und compel Simon of Cyrene to carry His
592
PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
cross. The virtue of that cross changed his heart, and from a
compulsory task it became a privilege and a joy.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, may it be our privilege also to bear Thy
cross ; may we glory in nothing else ; by it may the world be
crucified unto us, and we unto the world ; may we never shrink
FIFTH STATION.— SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS SIXTH STATION.— VERONICA WIPES THE FACE
JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS. OF JESUS.
from sufferings, but rather rejoice if we may be counted worthy
to suffer for Thy name's sake.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Is there one who would not weep
"Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Holy Mother, etc.
SIXTH STATION.
THE FACE OF JESTJS IS WIPED BY VEKONTOA.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
PEAYERS FOR THE STATIONS. 593
Priest.
As Jesus proceeds on the way, covered with the sweat of
death, a woman, moved with compassion, makes her way
through the crowd, and wipes His face with a handkerchief.
As a reward of her piety the impression of His sacred counte
nance is miraculously imprinted upon the handkerchief.
Prayer.
O Jesus, may the contemplation of Thy sufferings move us
with the deepest compassion, make us to hate our sins, and
kindle in our hearts more fervent love to Thee. May Thy
image be graven on our minds until we are transformed into
Thy likeness.
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?
Holy Mother, etc.
SEVENTH STATION.
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME UNDER THE CROSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
H. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
The pain of His wound, and the loss of blood, increasing at
every step of His way, again His strength fails Him, and Jesus
falls to the ground a second time.
Prayer.
O Jesus, falling again under the burden of our sins, and
of Thy sufferings for our sins, how often have we grieved Thee by
our repeated falls into sin ! Oh, may we rather die than ever
offend Thee again !
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child
All with bloody scourges rent.
Holy Mother, etc.
594 PRAYEKS FOR THE STATIONS.
EIGHTH STATION.
THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM MOURN FOR OUR LORD.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
At the sight of the sufferings of Jesus some holy women in
SEVENTH STATION. — JKSUS FALLS THE
SECOND TIME.
EIGHTH STATION.— JESUS SPEAKS TO THE
WOMEN OF JERUSALEM.
the crowd were so touched with sympathy that they openly be
wailed and lamented Him. Jesus, knowing the things that were
to come to pass upon Jerusalem because of their rejection of
Him, turned to them and said, ' ' Daughters of Jerusalem, weep
not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, we mourn, and will mourn, both for Thee
and for ourselves, for Thy sufferings and for our sins which
caused them. Oh, teach us so to mourn that we may be com
forted, and escape those dreadful judgments prepared for all who
reject or neglect Thee in this life.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS. 595
For the sins of His own nation
She saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.
Holy Mother, etc.
NINTH STATION.
JESUS FALLS THE THIKD TIME UNDER THE CROSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
Jesus had now arrived almost at the summit of Calvary ; but
before He reached the spot where He was to be crucified His
strength again fails Him, and He falls the third time, to' be again
dragged up, and goaded onward by the brutal soldiery.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, we entreat Thee, by the merits of this Thy
third most painful fall, to pardon our frequent relapses and our
long continuance in sin; and may the thought of these Thy
sufferings make us to hate our sins more and more.
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
O thou Mother, fount of love !
Touch my spirit from above,
Make rny heart with thine accord.
Holy Mother, etc.
TENTH STATION.
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
P. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
Arrived at last at the place of sacrifice, they prepare to crucify
Him. His garments are torn from His bleeding body, and He,
the Holy of holies, stands exposed to the vulgar gaze of the rude
and scoffing multitude.
596 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Thou didst endure this shame for our most
shameful deeds. Strip us, we beseech Thee, of all false shame,
conceit, and pride and make us so to humble ourselves volun
tarily in this life that we may escape everlasting ignominy in
the world to come.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Make me feel as thou hast felt ;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord.
Holy Mother, etc.
ELEVENTH STATION.
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
It. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
The cross is laid upon the ground, and Jesus is stretched
upon His bed of death. At one and the same time He offers
His bruised limbs to His heavenly Father in behalf of sinful
. nan, and to His fierce executioners to be nailed by them to the
disgraceful wood. The blows are struck! the blood gushes
forth !
Prayer.
O Jesus, nailed to the cross, fasten our hearts there also,
that they may be united to Thee until death shall strike us with
its fatal blow, and with our last breath we shall have yielded up
our souls to Thee.
Act of Contrition, etc. , as before.
Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.
Holy Mother, etc.
TWELFTH STATION.
JESUS DIES UPON THE CROSS.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
Priest.
597
For three hours has Jesus hung upon His transfixed hands ;
His blood has run in streams down His body, and bedewed the
ground ; and, in the midst of excruciating sufferings, He has
pardoned His murderers, promised the bliss of paradise to the
good thief, and committed His blessed Mother and beloved dis-
NINTH STATION.— JESUS FALLS THE THIRD
TIME.
TENTH STATION. — JESUS is STRIPPED OP
His GARMENTS.
ciple to each other's care. All is now consummated; and,
meekly bowing down His head, He gives up the ghost.
Prayer.
O Jesus, we devoutly embrace that honored cross whereon
Thou didst love us even unto death. In that death we place all
our confidence. Henceforth let us live only for Thee ; and in
dying for Thee let us die loving Thee, and in Thy sacred arms.
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.
Holy Mother, etc.
598 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
THIRTEENTH STATION.
JESUS IS LAID IN THE ARMS OF HIS BLESSED MOTHER.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
Priest.
The multitude have left the heights of Calvary, and none
remain save the beloved disciple and the holy women, who, at
the foot of the cross, are striving to stem the grief of Christ's
ELEVENTH STATION.— JESUS is NAILED TO
THE CROSS.
TWELFTH STATION.— JESUS DIES ON THE
CROSS.
inconsolable Mother. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
take down the body of her divine Son from the cross, and de
posit it in her arms,
Prayer.
O thou, whose grief was boundless as an ocean that hath
no limits, Mary, Mother of God, give us a share in thy most
holy sorrow in the sufferings of thy Son, and have compassion
on our infirmities. Accept us as thy children with the beloved
disciple. Show thyself a mother unto us ; and may He through
thee receive our prayer Who for us vouchsafed to be thy
Son.
PBAYERS FOK THE STATIONS.
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him Who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
Holy Mother, etc.
FOURTEENTH STATION.
JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
599
THIRTEENTH STATION.— JESUS is LAID IN
THE ARMS OF His MOTHER.
FOURTEENTH STATION.— JESUS is LAID IN
THE SEPULCHRE.
world.
Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
Priest.
The body of her dearly beloved Son is taken from His Mother,
and laid by the disciples in the tomb. The tomb is closed, and
there the lifeless body remains until the hour of its glorious
resurrection.
Prayer.
We, too, O God, will descend into the grave whenever it
shall please Thee, as it shall please Thee, and wheresoever it
600 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
shall please Thee. Let Thy just decrees be fulfilled, let our
sinful bodies return to their parent dust, but do Thou, in Thy
great mercy, receive our immortal souls, and when our bodies
have risen again place them likewise in Thy kingdom, that we
may love and bless Thee forever and ever. Amen.
Act of Contrition, etc., as before.
By the cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.
Holy Mother, etc.
The Benediction is then given, after which the following antiphon and
prayer are sung :
Ant. Christ was made for us obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross.
Let us Pray.
Look down, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon this Thy family,
for which Our Lord Jesus Christ did not refuse to be delivered
into the hands of wicked men, and to endure the torment of
the cross. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever.
R. Amen.
When the Benediction is given with the Cross of the Passion, the following
order is to ~be observed.
Cantor. Grant us, O Lord, a blessing.
Priest. May Our Lord Jesus Christ bless us, Who for us waa
scourged, loaded with His cross, and crucified.
R. Amen.
Bnotber Jform of praters for tbe Stations.
(FOB PRIVATE USE.)
PREPARATORY PRAYER.
•T~)ECEIVE, O holy Trinity, this my dutiful service, which I
-£u offer unto Thee in union with the merits of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin, and all the saints, to the
glory of Thy divine majesty, in satisfaction for my sins, in re
membrance of our redemption, and to obtain for the departed
rest, for the living grace, and for all everlasting glory. To Thee
PKAYERS FOB THE STATIONS. 601
be praise, and honor, and glory, O blessed Trinity, forever
and ever. Amen.
FIEST STATION.
CHRIST IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH.
He willingly submitted to that unjust judgment, that He
might deliver thee from the sentence of everlasting damnation.
Ant. The wicked have said, reasoning with themselves, but
not right : Let us lie in wait for the just, for He is contrary to
our doing : He boasteth that He hath the knowledge of God, and
calleth God His Father. Let us see if His words be true. If
He be indeed the Son of God, He will deliver Him out of our
hands. Let us condemn Him to a most shameful death.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. God spared not His own Son.
R. But delivered Him up for us all.
V. He was offered up, because He Himself desired it.
It. And He opened not His mouth.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who out of the bosom of the Father
didst descend from heaven to earth, and didst shed Thy most
precious blood for the remission of our sins, we 1mm bly beseech
Thee that in the day of judgment we may be found worthy to
stand at Thy right hand, and to hear Thee say unto us, " Come,
ye blessed," etc. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.
SECOND STATION.
THE CROSS IS LAID UPON CHRIST.
"The wicked have wrought upon my back" (Ps. cxxviii.).
Hail, our King ! Thou only hadst pity on our sins, and wast led,
in obedience to Thy Father, to be crucified, and as a gentle lamb
to the slaughter. To Thee be glory, hosanna; to Thee be
triumph and victory ; to Thee the crown of highest praise and
honor.
602 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
Lord, have rnercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
E. And by His bruises we are healed.
V. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
E. For the wickedness of His people hath He struck Him.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
E. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
THIRD STATION.
CHRIST FALLS THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE CROSS.
How great must be the weight of our sins, under which He
fell, Who bears all things by the word of His power !
Ant. Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself unto death,
even the death of the cross; for which cause God also hath
exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all
names.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. Surely He hath borne our infirmities.
E. And carried our sorrows.
V. He was branded for our iniquities.
E. He was bruised for our sins.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
E. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
FOURTH STATION.
CHRIST IS MET ON HIS WAY BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER AND
ST. JOHN.
Oh, how sharp a sword of grief must have pierced the heart
of His' Mother and of His loving disciple when they met Jesus
thus! Dost thou, too, share with them their sorrow and grief?
Ant. Oh, all ye that pass by, attend and see if there be any
sorrow like to my sorrow : therefore do I weep, and my eyes
run down with water, because the Comforter, the relief of
my soul, is far from me. My eyes have failed for weeping,
PRAYERS FOE THE STATIONS. 603
my bowels are troubled, my heart is turned within me, for the
desolation of my Son, because the enemy hath prevailed.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. Great as the sea is thy grief.
R. "Who shall heal thee.
V. A sword of grief hath pierced thine own soul.
H. That out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
FIFTH STATION.
THE CROSS IS LAID UPON SIMON OF CYEENE.
This man was compelled to carry the cross after Jesus. How
great an honor to have carried it willingly ! Art thou ready to
bear the cross of Christ?
Ant. It behooveth us to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, in Whom is our salvation, Who is our life and resurrec
tion, and through Whom we are saved and delivered.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Our
Lord Jesus Christ. .
E. By Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the
world.
V. O faithful cross, thou peerless tree !
JR. No forest yields the like of thee, leaf, flower, or bud.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
SIXTH STATION.
CHRIST IS MET BY VERONICA.
How excellent a mirror did Veronica obtain in the image of
C5
the face of Christ ! Do thou ever contemplate thyself in that
mirror.
604 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
Ant. Behold, we have seen Him without beauty or comeli
ness, despised and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows
and acquainted with infirmity, and His look was as it were hidden
and despised ; whereupon we esteemed Him not. His appear
ance is without honor among the living, and His beauty among
the sons of men; yet He is beautiful above all the children of
men, by Whose bruises we are healed.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. O Lord God of hosts, correct us.
R. Show us Thy face, and we shall be saved.
V. Turn not away Thy face from us.
It. Neither leave Thy servants in displeasure.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let iny cry come unto Thee,
Prcvy&r.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
SEVENTH STATION.
CHRIST FALLS DOWN AT THE GATE OF JUDGMENT.
How wilt thou be able to stand before Him in the day of
judgment?
Ant. They delivered Me into the hands of the ungodly, and
thrust Me among the wicked, and did not spare My soul. The
strong men gathered themselves against Me. and stood over Me
like giants, gazing upon Me with fierce looks; and, beating Me
with cruel stripes, they mocked Me.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. But I am a worm, and no man.
B. The scorn of men and the outcast of the people.
V. All they that see Me laugh at Me.
R. They spoke against Me with their lips, and wagged their
heads.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer,
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS. 605
EIGHTH STATION.
WOMEN LAMENT OVER CHRIST.
Where are the tears with which thou dost bewail thy sins
rather than the loss of any earthly good?
Ant. Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep
for yourselves and for your children. For, behold, the days
shall come in which they say, Blessed are the barren, and the
wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given
suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon
us ; and to the hills, Cover us. For if in the green wood they
do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. The breath of our nostrils, Christ the Lord.
22. Is taken in our sins.
V. The crown of our head hath fallen.
R. Woe unto us, for we have sinned.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
NINTH STATION.
CHRIST FALLS FOR THE LAST TIME AT MOUNT CALVARY.
Oh, how often is Christ pressed down by the weight of our
sins!
Ant. O My people, what have I done to thee, or wherein
have I molested thee? Answer thou Me. I brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt, and thou hast prepared for Me a
cross; I led thee through the wilderness forty years, and fed
thee with manna, and thou hast beaten Me with buffets and
scourges ; I gave thee a royal sceptre, and thou hast given My
head a crown of thorns. What could I have done more for
thee that I have not done?
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
606 PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
V. He is led like a sheep to the slaughter.
It. And, as a lamb before His shearers, He is dumb.
V. He delivered His soul unto death.
E. That He might give life unto His people.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
TENTH STATION.
CHRIST IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS, AND IS GIVEN VINEGAR
AND GALL TO DRINK.
Art thou unkind and inconsiderate to the poor? What thou
dost to them thou dost to Christ.
Ant. O My people, what have I done to thee, or wherein
have I molested thee? Answer thou Me. I brought thee out
from the house of bondage to the promised land ; and when I
came to thee from the bosom of My Father thou didst lead Me
to the death of the cross. I planted thee My choicest vine, and
thou wast made unto Me exceeding bitter ; I gave thee to drink
out of the rock the water of salvation, and thou madest Me to
drink vinegar and gall. What could I have done more for thee
that I have not done?
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. My strength hath dried up like a potsherd.
E. And my tongue hath cleaved to My jaws.
V. They gave Me gall to eat.
E. And when I was thirsty they gave Me vinegar to drink.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
E. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
ELEVENTH STATION.
CHRIST IS FASTENED TO THE CROSS WITH DREADFUL NAILS.
How strong are the bands of love with which Jesus hath bound
Himself unto thee ! How dost thou bind thyself in return unto
Him?
PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS. 607
Ant. O My people, what have I done unto thee ? I exalted
thee with great power, and thou didst hang Me on the gibbet of
the cross ; I made thee higher than all nations, and thou hast
loaded Me with reproaches and curses ; I opened before thee the
Red Sea, and thou hast opened My side with a spear. What
could I have done more for thee that I have not done?
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. What are these wounds in the middle of Thy hands?
It. With them was I wounded in the house of those that
loved Me.
V. They have pierced My hands and My feet.
It. And have numbered all My bones.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
H. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
TWELFTH STATION.
CHRIST DIES UPON THE CEOSS.
Consider what Jesus said and did when He was dying. Oh,
that thou too mayst die like Him !
Ant. Behold how the just man dieth, and no man layeth it
to heart ; and the righteous are taken away, and no one con-
sidereth. The just man is taken away from before the face
of evil, and the memory of him shall be in peace.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. Christ became obedient unto death for us.
It. Even the death of the cross.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
E. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the
world.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
60S PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS.
THIRTEENTH STATION.
THE BODY OF CHRIST IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS, AND LAID
UPON THE KNEES OF HIS MOTHER.
Consider the vehement anguisli of Mary's soul when she
received in her arms the dead body of her Son taken down from
the cross, and laid Him on her knees. Love caused her so great
grief, and made her truly a martyr. What love and sympathy
dost thou feel for thy Saviour?
Ant. To what shall I compare thee, or to whom shall I liken
thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equal thee,
O virgin daughter of Sion? Great as the sea is thy desolation.
O mother of mercy, make me to share with thee the death of
Christ ; make me a partaker of His passion.
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. Through thee, O Virgin Mary, may we obtain salvation.
E. From the wounds of Christ.
V. O holy Jesus, grant me to obtain, through Thy Mother,
R. The crown of victory.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
JR. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
FOURTEENTH STATION.
THE BODY OF JESUS IS BURIED.
Consider, O my soul, how the body of Jesus was wrapped
in spices, and laid in a new tomb. With what honor dost thou
receive Jesus thy Redeemer daily, either sacramentally or spirit
ually? Art thou always endeavoring to be, as it were, a new
tomb for the reception of Jesus, bright with the beautiful orna
ments of virtue?
Ant. I am counted among them that go down to the pit ; I
am become as a man without help, free among the dead. O
good Jesus, I come here with the women to Thy tomb, sorrow
ing and lamenting that hitherto I have shown myself so unworthy :
confirm and establish the kingdom of Thy grace in my heart.
DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE. 609
Lord, have mercy, etc.
Our Father. Hail Mary.
V. My flesh shall rest in hope.
R. Thou wilt not give Thy holy one to see corruption.
V. Arise, O Lord, and help me.
R. And deliver me from my sins.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
It. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
COMMENDATION.
Look down, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon this Thy family,
for which Our Lord Jesus Christ did not refuse to be delivered
into the hands of wicked men, and to endure the torment of the
cross. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.
PEAYEE ON THE HOLY WINDING-SHEET OF CHEIST5S BODY.
O Lord Jesus Christ, "Who didst leave the marks of Thy
passion on the holy winding-sheet in which Thy most sacred
body was wrapped by Joseph when taken down from the cross,
mercifully grant that through Thy death and burial we may be
brought to the glory of the resurrection. Who livest and reign -
est, etc.
2>ail$ Exercises for Darious States in !Hife.
PEAYEE OF MAEEIED PERSONS.
S~\ GOD, Who didst institute marriage in paradise, and in the
New Law didst raise it to the dignity of a sacrament, and
Who hast called me, as I hope, thereto, I pray Thee give me grace
to live therein peacefully and humbly, to suffer patiently all
afflictions and trials that befall me, to rear my children piously,
according to Thy will and commandments, to train the members
of my family to devotion, and to banish from my house what
ever is scandalous, that in and through us Thy name may be
praised. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc. Amen.
blO DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE.
PEAYEE OF A FAEM-HAND.
O almighty, eternal God, Who, for the disobedience of our
first parents, didst curse the earth that it brought forth thistles
and thorns, Who hast said that in the sweat of our brow we
should eat our bread, who hast laid it upon me for my own and
for my neighbor's sustenance to cultivate the land in the sweat
of my brow, I give myself to Thy divine will, and offer Thee
all my bodily acts, in union with those done by my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, while He walked upon earth; I offer Thee my
labor in thanksgiving for all the benefits which I have received,
in satisfaction for my sins, and, finally, to obtain eternal life.
Amen.
PEAYEE OF A SEEVANT.
My Lord Jesus, Who didst leave the bosom of Thy heavenly
Father and come into this world, not that Thou mightest be
served, but to serve others, to leave us an example of humility,
since it has pleased Thee to give me such station that after Thy
example I should serve others, I give myself to Thy will, and
will serve others as if I were serving Thee, that with the humble
I may one day be exalted in heaven, and for reward receive
Thee Thyself. Amen.
PEAYEE OF A CHILD.
My Lord Jesus, Who didst become a little child, and as an
example for me didst grow in wisdom, years, and favor with
God and man, give me grace that through true faith I may
know and love Thee, and walk in the way of justice ; show me,
I humbly beseech Thee, the way of salvation which Thou hast
made ready from eternity, that I may walk in the same by the
practice of devotion, and at last come to Thee, O Jesus, Who
art eternal life. Amen.
VAEIOUS PEAYEES TO BE SAID WITH THE SICK.
PSALM TI.
O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy indignation, nor chastise me
in Thy wrath.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak : heal me, O
Lord, for my bones are troubled.
DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE. 611
And my soul is troubled exceedingly : but Thou, O Lord,
how long?
Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul : oh, save me for
Thy mercy's sake.
For there is no one in death, that is mindful of Thee : and
who shall confess to Thee in hell?
I have labored in my groaning, every night I will wash my
bed : I will water my couch with my tears.
My eye is troubled through indignation : I have grown old
amongst all my enemies.
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity : for the Lord
hath heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord hath heard my supplication : the Lord hath re
ceived my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled:
let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily.
PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH.
Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee by Thy holy wounds,
through which man, born in sin, is born again to eternal life,
let those wounds stand open to my afflicted soul when it shall
depart from this world, that the prince of darkness may not with-
stand it, nor the powers of the air terrify it, let Thy holy
wounds protect it in the last most dangerous combat, Who livest
and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
HOW TO SUFFER SICKNESS AND DEATH WITH MERIT.
The sick person should be encouraged by reminding him to
unite his pains with those which Christ suffered for us in the
garden and on the cross, to submit himself to the will of God,
and, if it be His pleasure, to be ready to die.
It is highly meritorious to be resigned to die according to
the will of God, to unite one's death with the death of Christ,
and to offer it up as a sacrifice for one's sins, and in thanksgiving
for mercies received, to add thereby to one's merits in heaven.
PRAYER.
O Lord Jesus, I unite the pains which I now suffer with
those which Thou didst suffer in the garden, at the pillar, in
the house of Pilate, and on the cross. I also offer up to Thee
612 DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IX LIFE.
my death, which I am ready to undergo according to Thy will,
for my sins and for Thy greater glory, and I unite it with Thy
holy death endured for me on the cross.
AN ACT OF FAITH.
It is useful to recite in the hearing of the sick the Apostles'
Creed, and to ask him afterwards whether he believes it all.
If the sick person be weak, some good friend should encour
age him to make an act of faith in his heart, and should then
say:
I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and in God the
Holy Ghost.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land
of the living. I believe that my Redeemer liveth, and that on
the last day I shall rise again from the dead.
For one thing have I besought the Lord, again I desire it,
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life.
ACT OF HOPE.
In Thee, O Lord, I hope, I shall never be confounded.
Thou, O Lord, art full of goodness and meekness. Thou art
rich in mercy to all that call upon Thee. Whosoever calls
upon the name of Jesus shall be saved.
The Lord loveth all that He hath made, and His mercy is
over all His works.
O God, show me Thy protection, that mine enemies may be
confounded at seeing that Thou art my consolation and support.
Receive my soul into Thy keeping, for to Thee have I been
dedicated ; deliver, O God, Thy servant, who trusts and hopes
only in Thee.
0 Lord, Thou art my helper, my protector, my Redeemer.
Lord, my God, delay not to assist me. In God is my strength.
Why art thou so sad, my soul, and why dost thou disquiet
me? Hope in God; I will yet give Him thanks. He is the
salvation of my countenance and my God.
ACT OF CHARITY.
1 will love Thee, O God, Who art my strength, my refuge,
and my Redeemer.
DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE. 613
For Thy glory, my God, I desire to be entirely consumed by
this sickness, that so I may be a sacrifice to Thee.
Blessed art thou, O queen of heaven and earth ! Oh, that thy
name may be praised and venerated from the rising to the set
ting of the sun.
The sick person must be often reminded to ask forgiveness
of all whom he has offended, and to forgive from his heart all
who have offended him. St. Augustine, in his last illness, called
for the seven penitential psalms, and said them devoutly. For
he had been accustomed to say that no one, however piously he
might have lived, ought to depart from this world without pen
ance. Every sick person should follow this example and say
these psalms, or, in case of being too weak, cause them to be re
cited for him by another.
It is useful to sprinkle the sick at times with holy water.
THE MEMORARE.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it
known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy
help, and sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired
with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my
mother ! To thee I come ; before thee I stand, sinful and sor
rowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate! despise not my
petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
THE SALVE REGINA.
Hai1, holy queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness,
and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of
Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in
this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine
eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary !
V. Make me worthy to praise thee, holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thine enemies.
V. Blessed be God in His saints.
It. Amen.
614 DAILY EXERCISES FOB VAKIOUS STATES IN LIFE.
PRAYEBS FOB YABIOUS OCCASIONS.
A PBAYEB FOB THE OHUBCH, THE POPE, THE CIVIL
AUTHOEITIES, ETC.
We pray Thee, O almighty and eternal God, Who through
Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve
the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through
the whole world, may continue, with unchanging faith, in the
confession of Thy name.
We pray Thee, Who alone art good and holy, to endow with
heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life our chief
bishop, N. , the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the government
of His Church; our own bishop [or archbishop], N. [if he is not
consecrated, our bishop-elect] ; all other bishops, prelates, and
pastors of the Church ; and especially those who are appointed
to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and
conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.
We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice,
through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted,
and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel
and fortitude the President of these United States, that his ad
ministration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently
useful to Thy people, over whom he presides, by encouraging
due respect for virtue and religion, by a faithful execution of
the laws in justice and mercy, and by restraining vice and im
morality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the delibera
tions of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and
laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend
to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happi
ness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge,
and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.
We pray for his Excellency the Governor of this State, for
the members of the Assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and
other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare,
that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to dis
charge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and
ability.
We recommend likewise to Thy unbounded mercy all our
brethren and fellow-citizens throughout the country, that they
DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IK LIFE. 615
may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the ob
servance of Th j most holy law ; that they may be preserved in
union, and in that peace which the world cannot give ; and after
enjoying the blessings of this life be admitted to those which
are eternal.
Finally, we pray Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the
souls of Thy servants departed, who are gone before us with the
sign of faith, and repose in the sleep of peace ; the souls of our
parents, relations, and friends ; of those who, when living, were
members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are
lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or
legacies to the Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of
divine worship, and proved their claim to our grateful and
charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest
in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment,
light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Saviour. Amen.
IN ANY NECESSITY.
O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness,
give ear to the fervent prayers of Thy Church, that what we ask
in faith we may effectually obtain. Through, etc.
IN ANY TRIBULATION.
O Almighty God, despise not Thy people who cry unto Thee
in their affliction, but for the glory of Thy name turn away
Thine anger, and help us in our tribulations. Through, etc.
IN TIME OF FAMINE OR PESTILENCE.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, an answer to our hearty
supplications; and, Thy wrath being appeased, turn away from
us this famine [or pestilence], that the hearts of men may know
that these scourges proceed from Thine anger, and cease by
Thy mercy. Through, etc.
FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
O God, Who rejectest none that come unto Thee, but in pity
art appeased even with the greatest sinners who repent, merci
fully regard our prayers in our humiliation, and lighten our
616 DAILY EXERCISES FOE VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE.
hearts, that we may be able to fulfil Thy commandments.
Through, etc.
FOR HERETICS AND SCHISMATICS.
O almighty and everlasting God, Who hast compassion on
all, and wouldst not that any should perish, favorably look down
upon all those who are seduced by the deceit of Satan, that, all
heretical impiety being removed, the hearts of such as err may
repent, and return to the unity of Thy truth. Through, etc.
FOR OUR FRIENDS.
O God, Who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, hast poured
into the hearts of Thy faithful the gifts of charity, grant to Thy
servants, for whom we implore Thy mercy, health both of body
and soul, that they may love Thee with all their strength, and
cheerfully perform those things which are pleasing unto Thee.
Through, etc.
FOR THE SICK.
V. Heal Thy servants, O Lord, who are sick, and who put
their trust in Thee.
E. Send them help, O Lord, and comfort them from Thy
holy place.
O almighty and everlasting God, the eternal salvation of
them that believe in Thee, hear us in behalf of Thy servants who
are sick, for whom we humbly crave the help of Thy mercy,
that, their health being restored to them, they may render
thanks to Thee in Thy Church. Through, etc.
FOR THE DEAD.
O almighty and eternal God, Who hast dominion over the
living and the dead, and art merciful to all, whom Thou fore-
knowest shall be Thine by faith and good works, we humbly
beseech Thee that they for whom we have determined to offer
up our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in
the flesh, or the world to come hath already received them out
of their bodies, may, by the clemency of Thy goodness (all Thy
saints interceding for them), obtain pardon and full remission of
their sins. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who, with
Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world
without end. Amen.
DAILY EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS STATES IN LIFE. 617
FOE A HUSBAND OR WIFE.
O God, Who hast ordained and sanctified the holy estate of
matrimony for replenishing the earth, for mutual consolation,
and as a type of the union of Christ and His Church, give me
grace both thankfully to accept its blessings, and carefully to
fulfil its duties. I beseech Thee continually to bless our union,
and to enable us to live together in peace and love, in the faith
ful discharge of all our duties to Thee and to one another.
Deliver us from every evil temper, from every heedless action,
which may in any way weaken or embitter the sacredness of that
tie by which Thou hast bound us together, and which can never
be severed. Make me faithful and affectionate, studious to
please, and ready to deny my own will and inclination in all
things. Let not the trials and crosses of this life induce me to
murmur, nor any earthly blessings cause me to forget Thee, the
Author and Giver of all ; but by patience and meekness, by
prayer and thankfulness, may all things be sanctified unto me,
and fit me for eternal union with Thee, through Jesus Christ,
etc. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR PARENTS, FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR
CHILDREN.
O Father of mankind, Who hast given unto me these my chil
dren, and committed them to my charge, to bring them up for
Thee, and to prepare them for everlasting life, assist me with
Thy heavenly grace, that I may be able to fulfil this most sacred
duty and stewardship. Teach me both what to give, and what
to withhold; when to reprove, and when to forbear; make me
to be gentle, yet firm; considerate and watchful; and deliver
me equally from the weakness of indulgence, and excess of
severity ; and grant that, both by word and example, I may be
careful to lead them in the ways of wisdom and true piety ; so
that at last I may, with them, be admitted to the unspeakable
joys of our true home in heaven, in the unity of the blessed
angels and saints, where Thou, O Father, with Jesus, Thy only-
begotten Son, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest
one God, forever and ever.
O heavenly Father, I commend my children unto Thee.
Be Thou their God and Father, and mercifully supply what-
618 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
ever is wanting in me through frailty or negligence. Strengthen
them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist the so
licitations of evil, whether from within or without ; and deliver
them from the secret snares of the enemy. Pour Thy grace
into their hearts, and confirm and multiply in them the gifts
of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ ; and so, faithfully serv
ing Thee here, may come to rejoice before Thee hereafter.
Through the merits of the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Who
with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth. Amen.
I
devotions for tbe Sicfe,
you are attacked by any serious illness, let your first care be
to send for a priest and settle the state of your soul. This
is much better done in the beginning of sickness than afterwards,
when the strength of fever or the nature of the remedies may
render a person absolutely unfit for so great a work. Sickness
is often sent for a punishment of sin, and a sincere repentance
and confession of sin are often a more effectual means of recovery
than any other.
2. If you have not already made your will, as in prudence
you ought, let this also be done in the beginning of your sick
ness ; that so, having settled your temporal affairs, you may ap
ply your soul without disturbance to the spiritual.
3. Engage your best friends to give you timely notice if
your illness be dangerous, and not to flatter you with hopes of
life when there is little or no hope. Make the best you can of
that time, which, perhaps, is to be your last. Admit but few
visitors, and talk only on such subjects as may be for your soul's
profit.
4. Take care to discharge your debts, and all other obliga
tions incumbent upon you ; and this as much as may be in the
beginning of your sickness. Forgive all who have in any
way injured you, and ask pardon of those whom you have in
jured.
5. Receive your sickness from the hand of God, with per
fect resignation to His holy will, as a just punishment of your
offences ; frequently offer yourself up to Him, and beg that He
will give you patience and sanctify your sufferings, and that He
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 619
will accept all your pains and uneasiness, in union with the
sufferings of your Saviour Jesus Christ, in deduction of the pun
ishment due to your sins.
6. Often get some friends to read to you such prayers as
are most affecting and proper for your present condition, es
pecially the penitential psalms, the litanies, acts of the love
of God, of patience and resignation, etc.
7. Have the crucifix, or a picture of Christ crucified, always
before your eyes ; think often upon His passion, hide yourself
in spirit in His wounds, and embrace His feet with all the affec
tion of your soul.
8. Aim, as much as you can, at a penitential spirit during
your sickness ; often cry to God for mercy, and make frequent
acts of contrition for your sins. St. Augustine used to say that
no Christian, however innocent his life might have been, ought
to venture to die in any other state than that of a penitent.
A PRAYER PROPER TO BE REPEATED DAILY IN TIME OF SICKNESS.
O Lord Jesus Christ, behold, I receive this sickness, with
which Thou art pleased to visit me, as coming from Thy fatherly
hand. It is Thy will it should be thus with me, and there
fore I submit; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
May this sickness be to the honor of Thy holy name, and for the
good of my soul. For this end I here offer myself with an entire
submission to all Thine appointments, to suffer whatever Thou
pleasest, as long as Thou pleasest, and in what manner Thou
pleasest ; for I am Thy creature, O Lord, who have most un
gratefully offended Thee ; and since my sins have a long time
cried aloud to Heaven for justice, why should I now complain if
I feel Thy hand upon me?
But rebuke me not, O Lord, in Thy fury, nor chastise me
in Thy wrath, but have regard to my weakness. Thou knowest
how frail I am, that I am nothing but dust and ashes. Deal
not with me, therefore, according to my sins, neither punish me
according to mine iniquities ; but, according to the multitude of
Thy most tender mercies, have compassion on me. Oh, let Thy
justice be tempered with mercy, and let Thy heavenly grace
come to my assistance, to support me under this my illness!
Confirm my soul with strength from above, that I may bear
with a true Christian patience all the uneasiness, pains, disquiets,
62Q DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
nd difficulties of my sickness, and that I may cheerfully accept
them as the just punishment of my offences. Preserve me from
all temptations, and be Thou my defence against all the assaults
of the enemy, that in this illness I may in no way offend Thee;
and if this is to be my last I beseech Thee so to direct me by
Thy grace that I may not neglect nor be deprived of those helps
which, in Thy mercy, Thou hast ordained for the good of my
soul to prepare it for its passage into eternity; that, being per
fectly cleansed from all my sins, I may believe in Thee, put my
whole trust in Thee, love Thee above all things, and, through
the merits of Thy death and passion, be admitted into the com
pany of the blessed, where I may praise Thee forever. Amen.
SHORT ACTS OF THE MOST NECESSARY VIRTUES PROPER TO BE
INCULCATED IN THE TIME OF SICKNESS.
Lord, I accept this sickness from Thy hands, and entirely
resign myself to Thy blessed will, whether it be for life or death.
Not my will but Thine be done : Thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven.
Lord, I submit to all the pains and uneasiness of this illness ;
my sins have deserved infinitely more. Thou art just, O Lord,
and Thy judgment is right.
Lord, I offer Thee all that I now suffer, or may have to suffer,
to be united to the sufferings of my Eedeemer, and sanctified
by His passion.
I adore Thee, O my God and my all, as my first beginning
and last end ; and I desire to pay Thee the best homage I am
able, and to bow down all the powers of my soul to Thee.
Lord, I desire to praise Thee forever, in sickness as well as
in health ; I desire to join my heart and voice with the whole
Church of heaven and earth in blessing Thee forever.
I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart for all the
mercies and blessings bestowed upon me and Thy whole Church
through Jesus Christ, Thy Son; and, above all, for having loved
me from all eternity, and redeemed me with His precious blood.
Oh, let not that blood be shed for me in vain !
Lord, I believe all those heavenly truths which Thou hast
revealed, and which Thy holy Catholic Church believes and
teaches. Thou art the Sovereign Truth, Who canst neither de
ceive nor be deceived; and Thou hast promised the Spirit of
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 621
Truth to guide Thy Church into all truth. " I believe in God
the Father Almighty," etc. In this faith I resolve, through
Thy grace, both to live and die. O Lord, strengthen and
increase my faith.
O my God, all my hopes are in Thee-; and through Jesus
Christ, my Eedeemer, and through His passion and death, I
hope for mercy, grace, and salvation from Thee. In Thee, O
Lord, have I put my trust; Oh, let me never be confounded!
0 sweet Jesus, receive me into Thine arms in this day of my
distress ; hide me in Thy wounds, bathe my soul in Thy precious
blood.
1 love Thee, O my God, with my whole heart and soul, above
all things ; at least I desire so to love Thee. Oh, come now and
take full possession of my whole soul, and teach me to love Thee
forever !
I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ.
Oh, when will Thy kingdom come? O Lord, when wilt Thou
perfectly reign in all hearts? When shall sin be no more?
I desire to embrace every neighbor with perfect charity for
the love of Thee. I forgive from my heart all who have in any
way offended or injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have
in any way offended.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy ;
and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out
mine iniquity.
Oh, who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears
to mine eyes, that night and day I may weep for all my
sins?
Oh, that I had never offended so good a God ! Oh, that I
had never sinned! Happy those souls that have always pre
served their baptismal innocence !
Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner ; sweet Jesus, Son of the
living God, have mercy on me !
I commend my soul to God, my Creator, Who made me out
of nothing; to Jesus Christ, my Saviour, Who redeemed me with
His precious blood ; to the Lloly Ghost, Who sanctified me in
Baptism. Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
I renounce from this moment, and for all eternity, the devil
and all his works ; and I abhor all his suggestions and tempta
tions. Oh, suffer not, O Lord, this mortal enemy of my soul to
K99 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
U'W/w
have any power over me, either now or at my last hour. Oh, let
Thy holy angels defend me from all the powers of darkness!
Holy Mary, pray for me.
Holy Mary, mother of grace, mother of mercy, do thou
defend me from the enemy, and receive me at the hour of
death.
O holy angel of God, who art my guardian, stand by me
and assist me.
O all ye blessed angels and saints of God, pray for me, a
poor sinner.
HOLY COMMUNION AS A VIATICUM.
When the priest has been called to give communion to a sick
person, or to administer the last sacraments to the dying, care
must be taken to have everything rightly prepared in the sick-
chamber. In the first place, see that the room is clean and in
perfect order.
A table must be made ready and covered with a white linen
cloth, on which should be placed two candles and a crucifix, and
a glass of pure water from the spring or well, and if there is any
holy water in the house place it near by, or at the door of the
chamber. A clean white napkin should also be furnished to
serve as a communion-cloth.
When the priest arrives with the Blessed Sacrament, all
should kneel and maintain the utmost reverence and quiet till
the sick person's thanksgiving is finished.
PRAYERS BEFORE RECEIVING THE HOLY VIATICUM, OB COMMUNION
IN SICKNESS.
O infinitely merciful Jesus, a great journey is before me,
from this world to eternity. May Thy most holy will be done,
my heart is ready. Yes, let me depart from this world, for so
it pleases Thee.
But what can I do without Thee, Thou Who art the Way,
the Truth, and the Life! Without Thee I should perish of
hunger and thirst on the way.
Come, then, O merciful Jesus, before I die. Come, and
delay not ; strengthen me through the Most Holy Sacrament of
the Altar; strengthen me with Thy most holy flesh and blood,
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 623
that by the power of this strong bread of angels I may attain to
the view of Thy divine countenance.
As the hart panteth after the fresh fountains of water, so my
soul longs for Thee, O my God, Thou living fountain of all
good. Oh, when shall I come and appear before Thy face?
When shall my feet stand in Thy delightful tabernacles, in the
house of my Lord?
Why art thou sorrowful, Q my soul, and why art thou dis
quieted? Hope in God. See! thy Beloved comes. He will
come, strengthen thee, and take thee from the desert of this life
to thy heavenly home.
Ah, come, then, my Saviour! come, beloved Jesus, come,
and tarry not too long! I desire to enjoy Thee as the true
paschal Lamb before I die and depart.
Come, O sweetest Jesus, come, and enter my heart, unite
Thyself to me, remain with me, until I have overcome every
thing, and have conquered death.
Come, O Jesus, come, and lead me to the heavenly banquet
in Thy Father's house! Prepare for me a dwelling there, as
Thou hast promised, that I may be forever with Thee, and re
joice with Thee forever. Amen.
PRAYERS AFTER THE HOLY VIATICUM.
Remain for some time silent, in quiet and sweet union with
your beloved Saviour. Excite in your heart a lively faith in
His personal presence. Breathe forth many sighs of gratitude
and love to Him for all the temporal and spiritual blessings that
He has bestowed on you during your whole life, but especially
that He has so often fed you with His holy body, and has even
granted you this last favor, to be your food and support on the
way to eternity.
O my dearest Jesus ! I am now in possession of everything
to complete happily my pilgrimage here on earth, for I possess
Thee, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Thou art the Way, and wilt guide me safely to my heavenly
home. Thou art the Truth, and wilt illuminate the darkness
and the shadows of death. Thou art the Life, and art leading
me to life eternal. For should I walk in the midst of the
shadow of death, I fear no evils, for Thou art with me, my
helper and protector !
624 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
O crucified Jesus, Thou Who didst institute this holy sacra
ment for a memorial of Thy bitter passion, may the merit of
Thy passion not be lost on me. Thou Who forgivest sins, purify
me from every stain of sin, that I may appear entirely pure
before Thee.
Living Bread from heaven ! support my weakness by Thy
grace, that I may not yield in the last struggle ; that my faith
may not waver, my hope sink, and my love grow cold. O my
most gracious Saviour, let this holy Viaticum be a pledge of my
eternal salvation !
Now, O Lord, let me, Thy servant, depart in peace, for mine
eyes have seen Thee, the Saviour of the world, and my heart
hath received Thee. Bless me, O Jesus ! I will not let Thee go
until Thou hast given me Thy holy blessing for my journey to
eternity.
O Jesus, Thou art my life, and death is my gain.
O Jesus, my love, my God, my desire, my all !
EXTREME UNCTION.
The priest in administering this sacrament anoints the five
principal senses of the body, — the eyes, the ears, the nostrils, the
lips, the hands and the feet, — because these may have been em
ployed, during life, in offending God. At each anointing he
pronounces these words : "By this holy unction, and by His own
most tender mercy, may the Lord pardon thee whatever sin thou
hast committed by thy sight, hearing," etc.
The sick person should endeavor to prepare himself to re
ceive this sacrament by acts of sincere contrition for all his sins,
by great confidence in the tender mercies of his Redeemer, and
by a perfect resignation of himself to the holy will of God.
A PRAYER BEFORE EXTREME UNCTION.
O Lord, Thou hast mercifully provided remedies for all our
necessities ; grant me Thy grace so to use them that my soul may
receive all those good effects which Thou didst intend in their
institution. I desire now to be anointed, as Thou hast com
manded by Thine apostle ; grant, I beseech Thee, that by this
holy unction, and the prayers of the Church, I may partake of
that spirit with which Christ suffered on the cross, for Thy glory,
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 625
and for the destruction of sin. Give me true patience to sup^
port all the pains and trouble of m y illness ; give me an inward
strength to resist all the temptations of the enemy ; give me grace
for the pardon of all my failings ; give me that true light by which
I may be conducted through the shadow of death to eternal
happiness ; and if my health be expedient for Thy glory let
this be the means to restore it. Behold, I approach to this holy
ordinance with a firm faith and confidence in Thy goodness, that
Thou wilt not forsake me in this time of my distress, but that
Thou wilt stand by me with Thy grace, and defend me from all
evil, and prepare my soul for a happy passage.
* My eyes have seen vanities, but now let them be shut to
the world, and open to Thee alone, my Jesus, and pardon me
all the sins which I have committed by my seeing.
My ears have been open to detraction, profaneness, and un
profitable discourses; let me now give ear to Thy word, to Thy
commandments, to Thy calls, and pardon me, O Jesus, all the
sins which I have committed by my hearing.
I have taken delight in the perfumes of this world, which
are all nothing but corruptions ; now let my heart and prayers
ascend like incense in Thy sight, and pardon me, O Jesus, all
the sins which I have committed by my smelling.
My tongue hath in many ways offended both in speaking and
tasting ; nov/ let its whole business be to cry for mercy, and par
don me, dear Jesus, all the sins which I have committed by
words, or by excesses in eating or in drinking.
My hands have been full of evil, they have wrought many
follies, injurious to myself and to my neighbor ; now let them be
lifted up to heaven in testimony of a penitent heart, and pardon
me, O Lord, all the sins which I have committed by the ill use
of my hands. «£>
My feet have gone astray in the paths of vanity and sin ;
now let me walk in the way of Thy commandments, and forgive
me, O Lord, all the sins which I have committed by my dis
ordered steps.
Let my heart be now Thy temple, the temple of Thy Holy
* While the priest is administering the sacrament to the sick person, one of
the assistants may, before each anointing, read one of these short prayers,
corresponding to the organ of sense that is next to be anointed, that it may
be repeated by the sick person.
626 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
Spirit, and pardon me all the sins by which I have banished
Thee from my heart, and defiled my soul.
By this holy anointing, and the power of Thy grace, O
God, forgive me all my sins, and convert my heart wholly to
Thee, that I may cheerfully submit to death in punishment of
my offences, and so enter into Thy eternal rest. Amen,
A PRAYER AFTER EXTREME UNCTION.
O my God, by Whom I have been created, redeemed, and
sanctified, Who hast preserved me from many dangers, both of
soul and body, Who hast nourished me with the adorable sacra
ment of Thy body and blood, and granted me the grace to re
ceive the rites of Thy Church, in preference to so many others
who are carried off by sudden death, for these and all other
blessings which I have received from Thee I give Thee most
humble thanks from the bottom of my heart. And I beseech
the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all saints and angels, with me and
for me, to give thanks unto Thee for all Thy mercies. To Thee
I resign my heart. Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my
spirit. Keceive me, O dear Jesus, in Thy mercy, into those loving
arms which were extended on the cross for my redemption, and
admit me into the embraces of Thine infinite charity. I desire
not to be freed from my pains, since Thou knowest what is best
for me. Suffer me never to murmur, but grant me patience
to bear whatever Thou wilt, and as long as Thou wilt. Should
it be Thy will to inflict greater punishments on my weak body
and languishing soul than those which I now suffer, my heart is
ready, O Lord, to accept them, and to suffer in whatever manner
and whatever measure may be most conformable to Thy divine
will.
This one grace I most humbly beg of Thee, that I may die
the death of the just, and be admitted, after the sufferings and
tribulations of this transitory and sinful life, into the kingdom
of Thy glory, there to see and enjoy Thee in the company of the
blessed for a never-ending eternity. Amen.
PRAYER IN A BURIAL-GROUND.
Hail, all ye faithful souls of Christ, may He give you rest,
Who is Himself the one true Rest. May Jesus Christ, the Son
of the living God, Who for our salvation and for that of all
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACEED HEART. 627
mankind was born of the immaculate Virgin, and redeemed yon
with His precious blood, bless you, release you from your pains,
raise you up in the day of judgment, and place you with His
holy angels.
Devotions to tbe Sacrefc
MEDITATION FOR THE EVE OF THE FIEST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
OF THE SACRED HEART.
A MONG those who make profession of piety but few know
-£^- Jesus Christ and the treasures of His mercy ; for this
cause they give themselves up imperfectly to His love.
Nothing can be more pleasing to the loving heart of Jesus
than the childlike and unlimited confidence which we testify
towards Him. It is related in the life of St. Gertrude that one
day, as she reflected on the extraordinary graces which she had
received, she asked herself how the revelations with which she
had been favored could be made known to mankind with the
greatest profit to their souls. Our Lord vouchsafed her this
reply :
' ' It would be good for men to know, and never to forget,
that I, their God and Saviour, am always present in their behalf
before My heavenly Father. This should never be forgotten,
that when through human frailty their hearts incline to sin I
offer for them my merciful heart ; and when they offend God
by their works I present to Him My pierced hands and feet in
order to appease the anger of divine justice."
Our Lord Jesus Christ, says the great Apostle, is the mediator
between God and man. He is now ascended into heaven in
order to aid our prayers by His powerful mediation. " Fail
not," says the devout Blosius, " to offer your good works and
pious exercises to the most sweet heart of Jesus, in order that
He may purify and perfect them ; for His heart, so full of ten
derness, takes delight in so divine a work. He is always ready
to perfect in you whatever He sees imperfect or defective.
Confidence is a key to the heart of Jesus. "What may we not
obtain from our fellow-creatures by the confidence we place in
them? How much more, then, will it not obtain from God?
How marvellous will be its effects if united with an absolute
dependence on Him ! ' :
628 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
Thus, when animated by faith, Peter walked on the waters
as on dry land ; but from the moment that fear entered his mind
the waters lost their sustaining power, and his compassionate
Master, extending His hand, said to him, " O thou of little faith,
why didst thou doubt? "
On another occasion also the tempest threatened to ingulf
the apostles; but Jesus said to them, having commanded the
winds and the sea: " Where is your faith? why are you fear
ful? have you, then, no faith? " In order to inspire us with a
more lively confidence Our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed Him
self to teach us the prayer which we address to God ; so that
our heavenly Father, touched by the words of His own Son,
might refuse us nothing which we ask in His name ; for this He
would have us call Him by the sweet name of Father. But as
this is not enough, in order to dispel all our diffidence, He carries
His condescension even so far as to promise by a solemn oath to
be always ready to listen to us. " Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever ye shall ask I will do." " Timid souls," He would
say, " I swear to you by Myself, Who am the Way and the eter
nal Truth ; by Myself, Who hate falsehood, and Who will punish
perjury with eternal damnation ; by Myself, Who can no more
lie or deceive than I can cease to be that which I am, I swear
promises, to you that I will grant what you ask of Me." These
are Thy O my God, says St. Augustine ; and who can fear being
deceived when he relies on the promises made by uncreated
Truth? When an upright man pledges you his word, you would
believe that you erred if you showed after this any doubt or fear.
i 'But if we receive the testimony of man," says St. John, " the
testimony of God, is it not greater?" Our divine Saviour
holds Himself so honored by this confidence that in a thousand
passages in the Gospel He attributes more to the miraculous
efficacy of prayer than to His own mercy. Not saying to those
who have recourse to Him, " It is My goodness and My power ; ' '
but, "It is thy faith, thy confidence, which has saved thee."
Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to St. Gertrude that he who
prayed to Him with confidence was sure to obtain his request
—that He could not do otherwise than listen to his prayers.
" Whatever may be the grace you request," says Our Lord, " be
sure of obtaining it, and it will be granted you." This it is
which St. John Climachus expresses in a like manner when he
DEVOTION'S TO THE SACRED HEART. 629
says, "Every prayer offered up witli confidence exercises over
the heart of God a kind of violence, but a violence which is
sweet and pleasing to Him." St. Bernard compares the divine
mercy to an abundant spring, and our confidence to the vessel
which we make use of in order to draw these saving waters.
The larger the vessel the greater the abundance of the grace we
shall bring away. Moreover, this is conformable to the prayer
of the psalmist, who sues for mercy in proportion to His confi
dence : < c Let Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, according to the
hopes we have placed in Thee."
God has declared that He will protect and save all those who
put their trust in Him. " Let them be glad, then," exclaims
David; "let all those rejoice who hope in Thee, O my God;
for they shall be happy for all eternity, and Thou wilt never
cease to dwell in them. ' ' He elsewhere says, ' ' He who places
his trust in the Lord shall dwell under the protection of the God
of heaven." " Yes, Lord," says St. Bernard, "it is hope alone
which opens to us the treasure of Thy mercies." " The efficacy
of prayer," says St. Thomas, " is drawn from faith which be
lieves in the promises of God, and confidence in the holy promises
which He has made to us. ' '
"We see, in short, in the sacred writings that the Son of God
seems to ta'ce the faith of those who address themselves to Him
as the rule for the help and the graces which He grants them, not
only doing what they wish, but in the manner in which they ask it.
Grace is attached to confidence ; it is a kind of axiom that
he who puts his trust in God shall never be confounded. And
the wise man defies a contrary example to be cited amongst all
the nations of the world. " Our souls should be filled with con
solations," says St. Ambrose, "when we remember that the
graces which God grants us are always more abundant than those
which we ask ; ' ' also, ; ' that the fulfilment of His promises
always exceeds our hopes," as says Ecclesiastes. " Let us have,
then, a firm confidence," as St. Paul recommends us, since the
Lord has promised to protect whosoever hopes in Him ; and
when obstacles present themselves which seem very difficult to
overcome let us say with the Apostle, ' ' I can do all things in
Him Who strengtheneth me."
Who, indeed, was ever lost after having placed his trust in
God?
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
But we need not always seek a sensible confidence — it will
suffice if we earnestly desire it, for true confidence is an utter
dependence on God, because He is good, and wishes to help us;
because He is powerful, and able to help us; because He is
faithful, and has promised to help us.
Example.
The venerable Mary of the Incarnation relates that it was
revealed to her on a certain occasion that the Eternal Father was
insensible to her prayer. She sought to know the cause, and an
interior voice said to her : " Petition Me through the heart of
My Son, through which I will hear thee." Address yourselves
to the heart of Jesus, the ocean of love and mercy, and He will
obtain for you, pious soul, and also for all poor sinners, the most
signal graces.
Some time before her death St. Mechtilde earnestly asked
of Our Lord an important grace in behalf of a person who had
asked her to pray for her. Seized with fear at the sight of the
terrible judgments with which the justice of God would visit this
soul, she was weeping bitterly, when Our Lord addressed to her
these consoling words, "My daughter, teach the person for
whom you pray that she must seek all she desires through My
heart."
There is no heart so hard as not to be softened by the heart
of Jesus, nor any soul so disfigured by the leprosy of sin that His
love cannot purify, console, and heal.
MEDITATIONS FOE THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.
At the hour of our death, when life, like a false friend,
is about to forsake us, we must, in a special manner, increase
our confidence in the Heart of Jesus.
It is said that Our Lord appeared one day to a holy soul who
had conjured Him to grant to a pious person a happy passage
from this life, and addressed to her these consoling words:
' ( My daughter, where is the pilot who, having brought into
port a vessel laden with precious stones, sinks it in the sea at the
moment of his arrival? Can you suppose that, after having
granted so many graces to this soul in the course of her life, I
shall abandon her at the end thereof ? ' ?
Let us lean on the heart of Jesus ; and driven on the stormy
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 631
sea of tins world, under the protection which He grants to those
who love Him, we shall one day triumphantly enter the desired
port, and enjoy the eternal blessings of that holy guidance.
Death was always precious in the sight of God, for Jesus was
to pass through its portal ; it is precious to Him still, for Jesus
has died.
No one who is devout to the heart of Jesus will fail to find at
the moment of his death more excellent and abundant treasures
than he had ever expected to receive. Death, precious to Him
self, will not Our Lord render it also inexpressibly so to us?
Faith cannot mistake the proofs of His tenderness. If we may
venture to say so, the exile of the being He created is a sorrow
to Him as much as to the soul itself ; for, like a tender father,
God desires that His children should be with Him in His king
dom. Of all the hours of life this is the one which is the most
precious in the sight of God, exerts the greatest power over His
love, and for this very reason has such a mighty influence over
His mercy and justice.
In order to receive the fulness of the new life to be merited
by repentance through the divine reparation every man must
undergo the terrible suffering of death ; but is not this suffering,
caused by sin, like all other trials, a token of love on the part of
God? Without death life could not attain to its end; without
death how could the soul ever reach eternal life?
The rebel angel escaped the sentence of death, but for him
there was no resurrection. It is decreed that man should die,
or, rather, the soul, cleansed by the blood of Our Lord, and vivi
fied by His love, passes into eternity before the body which it
shall one day glorify ; united together they are called by Jesus
to reign in heaven in a state so exalted that it could not have
been won by primeval innocence.
Even in this world, without awaiting the eternal glorifying of
humanity, the most beloved amongst the friends of God experi
ence through their whole being a marvellous transformation
which robs death of its terrors, and wholly disengages them from
this transitory world. The interior light by which they are led
is no longer human, but divine, through Jesus ; and a supernat
ural love is substituted for that natural love which they made
their law ; and not only are their criminal affections destroyed,
but the love of God above all things gives them, even in this life,
633 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
a foretaste of heaven. They feel no longer an engrossing care
for the preservation of the body, but sigh after death, crying m-
ce^santly to God, with St. Paul, " I desire to be dissolved, and
to be with Christ. ' ' They exult when they hear the clock strike,
at the thought that one hour less remains for them to pass in this
exile; death is no longer a passage of sorrow, but the desired
way by which they shall go to the Lord; they sigh after it, they
desire it, and would fain hasten the moment of its approach by
the ardor of their desire for the enjoyment of a never-ending
eternity. One single thing restrains them : it is when the per
fection of love imposes on them a law of charity yet stronger,
which would detain them in this world for the glory of God and
the good of their brethren; "for," says St. Teresa, "thus do
souls arrive at a strict union with Jesus."
Thus ardently they have desired to die in order to enjoy
the presence of Our Lord; this is their martyrdom that their
exile is prolonged; yet they are so inflamed with the desire
of knowing Him, of making His name hallowed, of being useful
to the souls of others, that far from sighing after death they
would wish to live for many years, even amidst the greatest
sufferings, too happy in being able to add to the glory of their
divine Master.
Perfect submission in death is an act of entire adoration, a
magnificent profession of faith and praise ; its beauty consists in
the cheerful and ready sacrifice which the creature makes to the
Creator of the life which He had given, shadowing forth God's
power in all its grandeur. Death beholds the soul already in
adoration annihilated at the thought of the near approach of
eternity ; this, we may well imagine, is the kind of death the
angels love to contemplate. The soul takes to itself no merit,
places no trust on the way in which it has served God, and de
sires to possess even the smallest consolation the Church can be
stow. It is specially attracted by the sanctity of God, which
makes it aspire to become pure, pure almost beyond conception,
in order to appear before the inviolable majesty of God ; relying
only on His mercy ; never losing its confidence in the greatness
of the divine compassion, but fearing lest its offences may be
beyond the reach of pardon ; dying the death of a child, with
its eyes fixed on the countenance of its tender Father. Why,
then, when in a state of grace, should we entertain a fear of
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 633
death? "Whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and
God abides in him." He who loves God is then sure of His
grace, and dying in this state is certain of enjoying forever
the sovereign good in the habitations of the elect. And can
such a one fear death? David has, however, said that no living
man is entirely pure in the sight of God. Thus no one should
have the presumption to hope for salvation through his own
merits ; for, except Jesus and Mary, no one was ever exempt
from sin. But we need not fear death when we have a true
sorrow for our faults, and place our confidence in the merits of
Jesus, Who came on this earth in order to redeem and save sin
ners, for whom He shed His blood, for whom He died. u The
blood of Jesus Christ," says the Apostle, u cries more loudly in
favor of sinners than the blood of Abel for vengeance against
Cain." Grace transforms into a brilliant light that which by
its nature was plunged in darkness and obscurity, and the plain
tive cry of our misery is changed into a song of triumph ; for
the fetters which yet separate the soul of the dying from the
heavenly Jerusalem are so near being severed asunder that the
triumphant alleluias of heaven mingle with the lamentations of
earth, and the last gaze of repentant love is tenderly fixed on
the crucifix till earth fades from view.
The transit of the creature from time to eternity is dear to
the Creator ; for * ' precious in the sight of the Lord is the death
of His saints." Let us throw aside, then, those vain fears of
death, and regard it as a tribute which all must pay to nature.
Let us be ready cheerfully to leave this world when Our Lord
shall call us to the land where the saints await us, and where we
shall meet those who have instructed us in the faith, and whose
victory will in some measure supply for the negligence with
which we have performed our own duties toward our heavenly
Father.
Let us unite ourselves to those glorious troops of blessed
spirits who are seated in the kingdom of God witli Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob ; into which the good thief entered in triumph
after a life of sin, and now enjoys, in the company of the elect,
the ineffable delights of paradise; where there is no darkness
nor storms, no intense heat, excessive cold, sickness, or sorrow ;
and where there is no need of the light of the sun, because the
Sun of justice alone enlightens the heavenly Jerusalem.
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACKED HEART.
We read the following touching account in the life of St.
Gertrude : The saint once heard a preacher insist strongly on
the strict obligation of a dying person to love God above all
things, and to entertain for his sins a contrition founded on love.
She believed this to be an exaggerated doctrine, and that if pure
love was necessary very few persons would die in the proper
dispositions. She became interiorly disturbed, and a cloud ob
scured her mind ; but Our Lord Himself vouchsafed to dispel her
fears, telling her " that in the last struggle, if the dying per
son had during life sought to please Him, and to lead a Christian
life, He would so mercifully reveal Himself that His love would
penetrate into the inmost foldings of the heart, causing it by His
presence to make acts of the most perfect contrition"; and,
added Our Lord, " I would have My elect to know with what a
great desire I wish them to be united to Me at that important
moment. Let this be made known, so that men may rely no
less on this last merciful grace than on all the others which My
love has lavished upon them."
Let us propagate this consoling truth, so well calculated to
inflame our hearts with the most lively love for so merciful a
God.
Practice. — Let us pray to the agonizing heart of Jesus for
the eighty thousand persons who, it is computed, die daily in
this world.
EJACULATORY PRAYER.
O sweet Jesus ! grant that I may die the death of those de
voted to Thy divine heart.
[His Holiness Pius IX., by a brief dated 29th September, 1859, granted
an indulgence of three hundred days, extended afterwards by a new re
script to three years, and a plenary indulgence once a month, on the usual
conditions, to the recital of the following prayers. They are applicable to
the faithful departed.
Intentions to be made during Mass, either at the offertory, immediately
after the consecration, or at the communion of the priest.]
Eternal Father, I offer to Thee the sacrifice which Thy
divine Son made of Himself on the cross, which sacrifice He
now renews on our altars. I offer it in the name of all man
kind, with the Masses which are now being celebrated, and which
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 635
will be celebrated throughout the world, in order to adore Thee
and render Thee all possible honor and glory ; to thank Thee
for Thy innumerable benefits ; to appease Thy justice, provokec
by our sins; to give Thee the satisfaction Thou dost expect,
also to obtain grace for myself, for Thy Church, and for the
whole world, as also for the souls in purgatory.
O Lord, I offer Thee the Masses which are being said
throughout the world, in the name of all mankind, for Thy
glory and the salvation and benefit of Thy creatures. O Lord,
I desire to offer up myself to Thee for all the intentions for
which Thou now offerest Thyself to God Thy Father.
PRAYERS TO BE SAID IN TIME OF TROUBLE.
Look down, O holy Father, from Thy sanctuary in heaven,
Thy dwelling-place, and behold this sacred victim which our
great High Priest, Thy holy, innocent, and well-beloved Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ, offers to Thee for the sins of us His
brethren, and let not Thy wrath be kindled on account of the
manifold transgressions of the world. Behold the voice of the
blood of our brother, Thy first-born Son, Jesus, cries to Thee
from the cross. Give ear, O Lord, be appeased; O Lord,
hearken, and do ; tarry not for our own sake, O our God, for
Thy name is invoked upon this house and city, and upon all Thy
people; and deal with us according to Thy infinite mercy,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, etc. Amen.
V. That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring us to true pen
ance.
R. We beseech Thee, hear us.
V. That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to defend this house and
city, and all Thy people, to keep them in peace ; to guard, pre
serve, and look down on them with Thy most tender pity.
R. We beseech Thee, hear us.
V. Through the holy mysteries of man's redemption.
R. Let Thy mercies quickly prevent us, O Lord, and spare
Thy people.
V. Through the merits and intercession of Thy blessed
Mother, and of all the saints.
R. Let Thy mercies, etc, as above.
V. Holy Mary, conceived without original sin, and all y«
angels and saints, intercede for us to Our Lord.
636 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
E That the mercies of our Lord may quickly prevent us;
and that He may spare His people, that so we may rejoice with
Him forever and. ever. Amen.
Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God, may Thy most holy will be
done at all times and in all things, according to Thy infinite and
eternal mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
Heart of Jesus, infinitely holy and merciful heart, I give
myself to Thee without reserve, and forever. I abandon to Thy
care my present and my future ; under Thy protection and for
Thy greater glory I wish to begin, continue, and finish all my
actions. I confide to Thy love every day of my life, and will
repeat every morning, in union with the holy sacrifice of the
Mass, this filial consecration. Thy heart, O Jesus, shall hence
forth be my consolation. I will invoke it in my trials, in my
difficulties, in my fears. Banish from my mind every desire,
every resolution and action which is not conformable to Thy holy
will. Suffer me not to yield to temptation, preserve me in purity
of heart ; be Thou to me a buckler against my own weakness
every moment of my life ; be Thou my help in death, and my
reward in eternity. Arnen.
Jesus, most charitable Jesus, meek and humble of heart, for
give us our sins, give us Thy peace, and remember us in Thy
kingdom !
May the heart of Jesus be everywhere loved.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, render my heart like unto
Thine.
ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
0 adorable heart of my Saviour Jesus ! loving heart of my
good Master, how great is Thy tenderness in remaining for me in
the divine Eucharist! Alas, Thy creatures forget Thy love,
despise Thy complaints, and withdraw themselves from Thee,
forgetting that, in Thy agony in the garden, Thou didst endure
all the bitterness of our sins. We now again by our iniquities
renew Thy sorrows. Thou languishes there with love and sad-
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 637
ness, and how few think of Thee, care for Thee, or are touched
bj Thy sorrows ! Let me at least listen to Thy tender complaint,
for I desire to repair the outrages which are unceasingly directed
against Thee. Prostrate, annihilated in spirit before the holy
tabernacle in which Thou dost display Thy love, I beseech Thee
to pardon my sins, and those of the whole world, for their con
tempt and indifference, their insults and their sacrilege. If I
cannot wash away with my blood my own faults and those of all
Thy guilty children, may I at least silently weep over the out
rages of which Thou art the victim? Oh, that I could dispose
of the hearts of all mankind, and fill them with contrition and
with gratitude, in order to offer them to Thy love as the only
homage which it desires to receive ! Lord Jesus, I offer myself
as a holocaust. Behold my heart, purify it, consume it with
love, sacrifice it to Thy will, that henceforth I may love Thee
only, and live only to love Thee. Guard Thou my heart, lest I
should reclaim it ; hide it in Thy wounds as in a safe asylum, so
that there I may live and die in order to be united to Thee
forever. Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS TO BE
RECITED EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH OF JUNE.
O Jesus, I consecrate to Thee my heart; place it within
Thine own. It is in Thy heart I wish to dwell, through Thy
heart I wish to love, and in Thy heart that I desire to repose,
unknown to the world and known to Thee alone ; it is from this
heart of Thine that I would draw that ardent love which should
consume my own, and by which I shall find strength, light,
courage, and true consolation. When I languish, it will ani
mate me ; when sad, it will give me joy ; when afflicted and in
trouble, it will encourage me.
O heart of Jesus, let my heart be the altar of Thy love, my
tongue publish Thy goodness, my eyes be unceasingly fixed on
Thy wounds, my mind meditate on Thy adorable perfections,
my memory preserve forever the precious remembrance of Thy
mercies; let everything in me express my love for Thee, O
Jesus, and my heart be ever ready to make any sacrifice for
Thee.
O heart of Mary, after the heart of Jesus the most loving,
638 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
compassionate, and merciful of all hearts, present to the heart
of thy Son this my consecration, my love, my resolution. That
heart will be softened at the sight of my miseries, and deliver
me from them ; and after having been my protectress in this
world, O Mother of Jesus ! be thou my queen in heaven.
PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS DC LIGUORI TO THE SACRED HEART.
O adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for
the love of men, until now I have shown towards Thee only
ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus,
abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die
of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingrati
tude to Thee ? Thou, my Creator, after having created me,
hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me ; and, not content
with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up
every day for me in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a
thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my
heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for
Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of
perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh.
Amen.
ACT OF ZEAL.
Through the heart of Jesus, my way, truth, and life, I ap
proach Thee, O Eternal Father. I adore Thee for those who
adore Thee not. I love Thee for those who love Thee not. I
acknowledge Thee for all who are wilfully blind ; who through
contempt do not acknowledge Thee. I wish through this divine
heart to satisfy for the duties of all mankind. In spirit I go
throughout the world to seek for souls redeemed by the precious
blood of my divine Lord, in order to make reparation for all
through this divine heart. I embrace them in order to present
them to Thee through Him, and through Him I beg the grace
of their conversion. Ah, Eternal Father, wouldst Thou suffer
them not to know Jesus, and not live for Him Who died for
them? Thou seest, O heavenly Father, that as yet they do not
live. Ah, make them live in this divine heart. Thou knowest,
O Incarnate Word, Jesus my beloved, all that I desire to say to
Thy divine Father through Thy divine heart and holy soul ; for
Thou art in Thy Father, and He is in Thee. Grant, then, my
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 639
request. In union with Thee I present these souls to Him.
Grant that they may be one with Thee. Amen.
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART.
Most sweet Jesus, Who repulsest no one, but "Who dost
welcome even the greatest sinners, provided they repent and
sincerely return to Thee, have pity, particularly on those who
invoke Thy holy name. Listen to the prayers of all who ad
dress Thee in spirit and in truth ; and grant that all the wor
shippers of Thy sacred heart may find, agreeably to Thy divine
promises, light, joy, strength, peace, protection, and holy love
for time and eternity. Amen.
INVOCATIONS TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
Divine heart of Jesus, Thou lovest me ; grant that I also
may love Thee,
Divine heart of Jesus, Thou always thinkest of me ; grant
that I may think of Thee.
Divine heart of Jesus, Thou givest Thyself to me; grant
that I may give myself to Thee.
Divine heart of Jesus, possess my senses.
Divine heart of Jesus, possess my heart.
Divine heart of Jesus, possess my imagination.
Divine heart of Jesus, possess my memory.
Divine heart of Jesus, grant that I may seek Thee alone in
all things.
Grant that I may find Thee in all things.
Grant that I may confide in Thee for all things.
Grant that I may please Thee in all things.
O divine heart of Jesus, mayest Thou reign in all hearts.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my safeguard. Amen.
INVOCATIONS TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS IN ORDER TO OB
TAIN THE CURE OF ONE WHO IS SICK.
Heart of Jesus, ocean of goodness and inexhaustible source
of mercy, vouchsafe to hear our prayers for JT.
Heart of Jesus, Whose delight is to be with the children of
men, vouchsafe, etc.
Heart of Jesus, our consolation in our trials, our remedy in
our distresses, and our comfort in our miseries, vouchsafe, etc.
(340 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
Heart of Jesus, infinitely good, sweet, and compassionate,
vouchsafe, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who, being moved with a tender compas
sion, didst work a miracle at the marriage-feast of Cana, comfort
and cure Thy servant N.
Heart of Jesus, touched and softened by the cries of the
Canaanitish woman, and Who didst restore health to her daugh
ter, grant us the cure of N.
Heart of Jesus, Who, with divine affection and goodness,
didst say, in speaking of Lazarus, " Our friend Lazarus is sick,"
comfort us, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who didst weep with Martha and Mary at
the grave of their brother, and Who didst call him back to life,
comfort, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who didst feel such great compassion on
seeing the son of the widow of Nairn borne to the grave, and
Who didst raise him from the dead, comfort, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who, with an admirable clemency, didst
give back life to the youthful daughter of the high priest of the
synagogue, comfort, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who, with a fatherly tenderness, didst feed
five thousand men in the desert, lest they should faint in the
road, console, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who, to show forth Thy power and Thy
goodness, didst restore thousands of the sick and infirm to
health, console, etc.
Heart of Jesus, to Whom all power has been given in heaven
and on earth, console, etc.
Heart of Jesus, Who lovestnot to punish, but to pardon, and
deliverest us so willingly from the evils which oppress us, con
sole, etc.
Heart of Jesus, O best and most indulgent of all hearts,
console and cure, etc.
In memory of Thy agony in the Garden of Olives, hear us,
O divine heart.
In memory of the wound Thou didst receive upon the cross
through love for us, hear us, O divine heart.
In remembrance of all Thy goodness and mercy, hear us, O
divine heart.
DEVOTIONS TO THE fl ACRED HEART. 641
Let us pray.
O sacred heart of Jesus, we beseech Thee not to deny us
the favor we so earnestly beg of Thee. We will not leave Thee,
0 divine heart, till Thou hast said, " I will be thy salvation; r
until Thou hast said, " I will let him (or her) be made whole."
Heart of Mary, compassionate heart of our tender Mother,
speak to Jesus in our behalf ; beseech of our merciful Lord to
grant us the cure of this his servant, which we solicit so ear
nestly. O heart of Mary, help us. O heart of Jesus, hear us.
Amen.
HOUR OF ADORATION OF THE SACRED HEART.
Prayer.
"What a happiness is mine, O my Saviour, to hold commun
ion with Thee, to thank Thee for the immense love of Thy heart
for mankind, to oifer Thee some reparation for the outrages un
ceasingly committed against Thee. But, sinner as I am, how
can I worthily acquit myself of so holy a duty ? O Jesus, unite my
prayers to Thine, offer to Thy heavenly Father the holy disposi
tions of Thy divine heart in order to supply for my deficiencies,
Holy Virgin, lead me to the heart of thy divine Son, that sanc
tuary of grace and virtue. I unite myself to the homage ren
dered Him by thy immaculate heart. Ye blessed spirits, ever
humbly prostrate before that adorable heart, I unite myself to
your profound adorations ; communicate to me your love and rec
ollection, present to Him my prayers; and, ye saints of heaven
and just ones of the earth, come and let us adore together the heart
of our Kedeemer.
Place yourself in the presence of God, make an act of faith?
and -say with the prodigal son :
My Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight.
1 am no longer worthy to be called Thy child. Make me as one
of Thy hired servants. I desire nothing more.
Place yourself in spirit near the heart of Jesus, at the foot
of the throne of mercy ; approach with confidence, listen to the
loving words Our Lord addresses to you, and pray to Him with
earnestness and devotion.
Jesus Christ. Open to Me thy heart, My spouse, My be
loved.
642 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
The Disciple. O my God, is it to me that Thou dost ad
dress these words? My soul is but an abyss of misery, and Thou
callest me Thy beloved ; I presume not to raise my eyes towards
Thy heart so pure and holy, yet as soon as I present myself to
Thee Thou dost lavish on me Thy most signal favors. What a
glory and happiness for me, my God, to be noticed by Thee, to
know that Thou disdainest not a creature so guilty as myself !
Ah, since Thou sufferest me in Thy presence, since Thou even
cornmandest me to open to Thee my heart, I obey. Depart from
thence, all earthly thoughts ; leave me to converse with my God,
that from His heart I may draw forth true love.
Jesus Christ. Thou hast wounded My heart, My beloved ;
thou hast wounded My heart.
The Disciple. O God, how can it be that Thy love should
have made Thee take a heart like unto mine? Ah, Thou hast
taken this heart in order that Thou mayst feel all my miseries ;
but what a prodigy of love to have assumed this heart only to
allow it to be pierced in favor of one so ungrateful ! Thou hast
allowed it to be pierced on the cross in the face of the whole
world, so that none should be ignorant of the excess of Thy ten
derness. Thou bearest in heaven this glorious wound. The open
ing in Thy heart shall never be closed up ; it shall always bear
the triumphant mark of Thy love. O divine heart, wound this
heart of mine ; inflict so deep a wound that it shall open entirely
to Thee ; pierce it with the same lance with which Thine own
was pierced, so that the waters of a sincere repentance may flow
from thence. Alas ! this heart has wounded Thee a thousand
times more by its ingratitude, infidelity, and obduracy. I have
pierced it by my offences. O my Saviour, pardon me ; banish
sin from my heart, making Thy holy love reign there in its
place.
Jesus Christ. My beloved, let there be no division; give
Me entire possesion of thy heart.
The Disciple. O Lord, how dost Thou abase Thyself, dis
daining not to ask for the heart of one who has not blushed to
refuse it to Thee in order to resign it up to sin? What tender
ness on Thy part ! But, O my God, what has this heart become
which Thou demandest of me? Alas! it is sullied with a thou
sand stains. How canst Thou endure it, Thou Who art sanctity
itself? Ah, my God, how much that is wrong is there in this
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACKED HEART. 643
heart ! what love of self -attachment to my own thoughts and will !
what worldly inclinations, distaste for heaven, tepidity in Thy
service, and solicitude for this perishing body ! However, since
Thou deignest to demand it, I offer it Thee. O Jesus, the only
object of my love, receive me now in Thy sacred heart, so that I
may be all Thine ; receive me into that ardent furnace in order
that I may be wholly consumed in Thy love. There, my sweet
Saviour, I shall know the value of the blood which has redeemed
me, and shall comprehend how I ought to love Thee. O love of
my Saviour, thou art that living water for which I thirst ; my
heart tends only towards Thee. Open to me Thy loving heart.
My heart is Thine for eternity ; bestow upon me Thine, O Jesus.
Jesus Christ. Yes, my beloved, I give thee My heart ; set it
it as a seal upon thine own, study its sentiments, copy faithfully
its virtues.
The Disciple. O my soul, receive this heart burning with
love, respond to its adorable designs over thee, endeavor to
make them thine own.
Adorable Jesus, my heart was formed to be Thy habitation,
Thy throne, Thy altar, Thy tabernacle. Enter, O divine
Saviour, into this habitation, and purify it from all that is un
worthy of Thee. Command it as a sovereign upon his throne,
and give me the docility necessary to obey Thee. Keceive
upon this altar the sacrifice I make Thee of my heart, and dwell
as a God of majesty and holiness in that living tabernacle which
Thou hast chosen for Thyself.
O my soul, regard attentively thy divine model ; see Him
raised upon the mount, nailed to the cross; behold His bleeding
hands, those eyes dim, the mouth livid, those pierced hands and
feet. Content thyself not with the exterior ; look in spirit at His
heart ; it has been opened by the lance in order that thou mayst
pass therein. Imitate His love, meekness, humility, and char
ity. Then cast down thine eyes on the ground around Cal
vary; it is watered with His blood. At the sight of that blood
understand that love shows itself more by actions than by words.
Thou desirest, O my Saviour, that I should place Thee as a
seal upon my heart by the imitation of Thy virtues and Thy
example. I ardently wish to do so. Give me grace to execute
what Thou commandest. O Jesus, Thy heart is pure, let mine
be pure; Thine is humble, let mine be humble; Thine is
C44 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
patient and docile, let mine be patient and docile; Thy heart is
all love let mine also be inflamed with Thy love. Ah ! hence
forth O my Saviour, I wish only to have in my heart what
Thou hast in Thine: humility, patience, gentleness, meekness,
charity. I desire no more to bestow my heart on creatures, but
to oive'it all to Thee. Alas ! it has not always been devoted to
Thy service. Through Thy grace, O my God, it is now all
Thine, and I hope it will ever remain so.
Jesus Christ. Love is strong as death ; its lamps are lamps
of fire, which the greatest waters cannot extinguish.
The Disciple. Thy love for me, O my Saviour, is more
powerful than hell, since it has broken its gates in order to de
liver me and open to me those of heaven. It is stronger than
death, since Thou hast disarmed it in order to give me life. Oh,
wondrous strength of love! All-invincible as Thou art, my
God, it disarms Thee; it stays Thy arm raised to strike the
sinner; it saves him from Thy avenging justice in order to give
to him Thy infinite mercy. I acknowledge that it is through
love for us that Thy supreme majesty is humbled even to vouch
safe to unite itself to our nature ; and it is through the strength
of this same love that the creature can ascend unto Thee, and
enjoy the privilege of entering into Thy sacred heart.
Behold, my soul, how Jesus hath loved tliee ! Behold the
humiliations and sufferings, the thorns, the nails, the cross, and
the effusion of His blood! — these are the proofs of His love.
The flames of this love are so ardent that all the waters of our
iniquities cannot extinguish them. But, O my soul, where are
the marks of thy love for Jesus? What hast thou done for Him?
Where are thy victories over thy evil inclinations? Where the
labors thou hast undertaken, the sufferings thou hast endured, for
His glory?
Alas! my God, my zeal is weak, my love is languishing.
Thy interests are more than ever abandoned. Thy enemies in
crease daily. Have I ever fought in defence of Thy cause?
Jesus Christ. O my beloved, is there any sorrow like unto
Mine? How much have I done for My children, and how have
they rebelled against Me ! I have carried them in My heart,
and they have lacerated, outraged, and forsaken it. The sorrows
of death have compassed Me, and the perils of hell are unchained
against Me.
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACKED HEART. 645
The Disciple. O my Lord and my God, sorrow seizes on
my soul, affliction and sadness press on my heart, at the sight of
Thy grief. Prostrate in the dust before Thy adorable heart, I
make reparation to Thee before heaven and earth. Pardon,
divine Jesus, all the outrages which were committed during the
course of Thy mortal life ; pardon the impieties, the irrever
ences, the sacrileges which have been committed against Thee in
the sacrament of Thy love ; pardon especially the sorrows which
I have caused to Thy divine heart by my irreverence in Thy
holy temples, by my tepid communions made without due prep
aration, and by the abuse which I have made of Thy graces and
of Thy precious blood. Ah ! why cannot I by my repentance
and my adoration restore Thee the glory of which so many
offences have deprived Thee? Why cannot I by my words and
my example lead back so many hearts which have withdrawn
themselves from Thee ? Why cannot I by my prayers and tears
cause a cessation to so many scandals, and draw unto Thee
worshippers in spirit and in truth?
Jesus Christ. I suffer on the part of Jews, pagans, and here
tics. They have contemned Me ; but that those who ought to
be devoted to Me should regard Me with indifference, and treat
Me with such neglect, pierces My heart with sorrow.
The Disciple. Ah, my sweet Saviour, can I think of this,
and not die with sorrow? Heavenly spirits, angels of peace,
weep bitterly for the indignities with which your Lord is visited ;
weep over our ingratitude to a heart which has loved us so much.
Divine Jesus, Thou hast come into this world in order to seek
and to save mankind ; and those ungrateful ones fly from Thee
arid abandon Thee. Thou loadest them with benefits, and they
abuse them ; they turn them against the giver, and against them
selves. Thou art always in the midst of them, and they seem
to be ignorant of Thy presence, or only to know Thee in order to
offer Thee some new outrage. Thou openest to them Thy heart,
and they enter therein only to pierce it with a thousand arrows.
Alas ! my loving Saviour, am I not myself one of these ungrate
ful souls? Ah, what sorrow have I not occasioned to Thy sacred
heart? I, Thy beloved one! Why does not Thy outraged heart
close itself, so as to forget and reject us? Why does not Thy
avenging arm raise itself against Thy guilty servants in order
to exterminate them? Shouldst Thou not at least deprive us of
646 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACKED HEART.
Thy loving presence, forsake our temples so frequently profaned,
and remain in heaven, where the angels and saints forever sing
Thy praises? But remain Thou still, O Lord, in the midst of
us: what would become of us if Thou didst abandon the earth?
Thy Father, beholding no longer the only object of His com
placency, would visit us with His avenging justice. How, then,
could we escape His wrath? Heart of Jesus, avenge Thyself as
befits the God of mercy. Do Thou pardon and convert our
souls to Thee.
Jesus Christ. I have promised to remain in the midst of you
until the consummation of the world, but in the sorrow which
afflicts Me have I not a right to expect to meet with some who
will compassionate My sufferings ? Nevertheless I am left alone
in My sorrow.
The Disciple. My beloved Saviour, Thou shalt no longer
be forsaken; I will make it a duty to visit and adore Thee.
0 heart of Jesus, always burning with love for us, always
ready to show mercy, pardon me my guilty forgetfulness of
Thee ; pardon me my unfaithfulness in Thy service, my want
of zeal in making Thee known and loved ; let my heart cease to
be if it is to be again insensible to Thee. Heart of Jesus, I
consecrate to Thee the remainder of my life. I wish that all
creatures had the hearts of seraphim in order to love Thee ; that
every mouth would sing Thy praises; that every mind should be
occupied only with Thy greatness. I unite my praises to those
which Thou receivest from all the angels and saints, and just
souls on earth. I wish that all who love and adore Thee were
multiplied, and would freely sacrifice all that I possess, my life
itself, if necessary, in order to prevent a single offence against
Thee.
Jesus Christ. My beloved, I accept thy desires ; ask My
Father in My name, and all that you desire He will grant you.
The Disciple. O Jesus, my only hope, make me faithful to
the devotion I have vowed to Thy adorable heart. Signalize
Thy mercy by allowing me to regain, by the ardor of my love,
the time which has been passed in Thy service, with so much
tepidity. I desire to make reparation, by continual praise, for
the ingratitude of mankind, and to give Thee every moment fresh
proofs of my love.
Thy love for me keeps Thy heart always open, so that I
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 647
may dwell there forever. Let love lead me and forever fix my
dwelling-place therein, and receive my last sigh.
I beg the same grace, O my God, for all for whom I am par
ticularly bound to pray. May those who have the happiness to
belong to the association of Thy divine heart, spread throughout
the world, have a special share in Thy mercy. Grant, O
Lord, that this confraternity may extend and perpetuate itself in
all times and in every place, that it may honor Thee by the
practice of every virtue, and an indefatigable zeal for the con
version of souls.
And since my merciful God wearies not of listening to me,
I will still continue to speak to Him — I, who am only dust and
ashes. God of my heart, lend an ear to my voice ; love those
who love Thee not ; open Thy heart to those who do not knock
at the gate ; and vouchsafe to cure those who, far from asking
Thee to heal them, take a pleasure in adding fresh venom to Thy
wounds. Thou hast said, my Saviour, that Thou didst come
upon the earth in order to seek sinners. O my Jesus, these then
are truly sinners. Ah! do not consider our ingratitude, our
blindness ; remember only the blood which Thou hast shed for
our salvation. Make manifest Thy mercy ; regard us as the
work of Thy hands. Save us by Thy mercy ; our evils are ex
treme. Arise, O Lord, behold the progress made by Thine
enemies; stay them, O my Jesus. Since they will not go to
Thee, go Thyself to them. I beseech of Thee to grant this grace
through Thy sacred wounds and by Thy precious blood.
O my Saviour, put an end to my sins and those of all man
kind. Let Thy voice make itself heard, and restore life to so
many hardened sinners. Call them from the deep abyss into
which they have fallen. Lazarus asked Thee not to raise him
from the dead. Thou didst work this miracle in behalf of a
sinner. O Lord, look also on me ; I beseech Thee to hear my
prayer. I ask it through the tears Thou didst shed over the grave
of Lazarus ; remember that Thy tears have flowed for all sinners
who sleep in sin. Through Thy precious blood I ask it, for Thou
hast pardoned those who shed it ; pardon us, O Saviour of the
world.
O Jesus, make Thy Church triumph over all her enemies,
increase the number of her children, give peace unto her, and
grant that she may ever bless Thy holy name and revere Thy
64g DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
icred heart O merciful Redeemer, have pity also on the souls
in purgatory; be touched by their sufferings ; they are the price
of Thy blood; open to them Thy heart ; listen to their fomenta
tions, and grant them, with release from their sufferings, the
happiness of glorifying Thee in heaven.
Kemember also, O merciful Jesus, in a special manner, those
souls who when on earth devoted themselves to Thy sacred
heart, and were zealous for the glory of Thy blessed Mother.
Suffer them not to be deprived longer of Thy presence for they
are very dear to Thee; and through this same merciful heart I
beseech Thee to put them in possession of eternal happiness.
PRAYER AFTER THE HOUR OF ADORATION.
Pardon me, my God, the distractions into which I have
fallen during this hour. Alas ! mayst Thou not reproach me as
Thou didst Thy three disciples with not being able to watch one
hour with Thee?
One hour with Thee, O loving heart of Jesus, has appeared
to me too long. Ah, should it not be my delight to be ever with
Thee? O heart ever full of love, why has mine been so cold,
so languishing in Thy presence? Pardon me, O Lord; for I
desire to breathe only for Thee, to make my whole life a per
petual adoration of Thy sacred heart. Amen.
AN INVITATION, OR THE DEVOUT SOUL5 8 REPAIR TO THE SACRED
HEART.
" Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-burdened, and I will
refresh you"
The faithful adorers of Jesus are invited to repair in spirit
twice in the day to His divine heart, in order to render Him due
praise by weeping over their sins, exciting themselves to the love
of God, or adoring Him for those who do not adore Him ; sing
ing the divine praises in the adorable heart of Jesus, or uniting
themselves to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, the first and
principal worshippers of this divine heart ; praying for those
faithless souls who, after having experienced so many proofs of
the love of this divine heart by the grace of their election, oblige
Him by their ingratitude to reject them. The zeal testified in
disarming His justice is pleasing to Him, because these souls are
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 649
dear to Him as the apple of His eye, and if He punishes it is
with sorrow. Finally, let all the associates unite in praying foi
one another, for which end the following acts may be used.
O Jesus, infinite goodness, open to us Thy divine heart ; let
us regard it as the centre of our happiness, and suffer not that
sin should ever separate us from Thee.
Great God, Who hast given us Thy Son, not to afflict His
heart by our ingratitude, but to lead us to His love, inspire all
those who are in authority in Thy Church with a tender zeal for
this devotion. O Almighty God, cast Thy eyes upon us; look
Upon us through the heart of Thy Son ; and if displeased at our
sins Thou wilt remember Thy mercy and forget Thy anger.
O sacred Heart of Jesus, O my life, my light, grant that I
may know only Thee, that I may live only for Thee, in Thee
and by Thee. Amen.
GUARD OF HONOR OF THE ADORABLE HEART OF JESUS.
Patrons: The Blessed Virgin, under the title of Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, St.
Francis of Sales, venerable Margaret Mary.
" My heart hath expected reproach and misery, and Hooked for one that
would grieve with Me, but there was none ; and for one that would
comfort Me, and I found none."
Object of the Association.
In response to this sorrowful complaint of Our Lord the
guard of honor has been organized ; the members who compose
it, by their devotedness and love, striving to console the heart
of Jesus for the forgetfulness and ingratitude of those for whom
He suffered so much, whom He loved so ardently, and by whom
He is so little loved.
Like faithful loving children of Our Lord, they will try
to console Him for the ingratitude of their brethren, and suc
ceeding each other by turns, before their Saviour Jesus, they
offer to this most tender heart the homage of reverence, de
votedness, and love.
The associates each choose one hour in the day, and at the
beginning of their hour of guard, without changing their ordi
nary occupation, they station themselves in spirit at the throne
650 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
of love, the tabernacle, offering to Jesus all their thoughts,
words, actions, and sufferings, and, above all, their desire to
console His heart by their fidelity and love. During the course
of the hour they think of Our Lord, make an act of love,
and offer up some little sacrifice for Him. This, however, is
not obligatory, the associates being free to follow the impulse
of their heart and of their piety as to the way in which they
may sanctify this holy hour ; and the heart of Jesus will doubt
less heap grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing, on those
faithful souls who duly fulfil this mission of devotion and of
love.
Offering of the Hour of Guard.
Dearest Jesus, my sweetest Saviour, I offer Thee this holy
hour of guard, during which, in union with [here name the
patrons of your hour], I desire to love and to glorify Thee, and,
above all, to condole with Thy adorable heart for the forgetful-
ness and ingratitude of mankind. Accept, I beseech Thee, for
this end, all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings ; above
all, receive my heart, which I give Thee without reserve, en
treating Thee to consume it in the fire of Thy pure love.
May the sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved !
O my Jesus, I desire to love Thee through this hour for all
those hearts who love Thee not.
Patrons for the Various Hours of the Above Devotion,
1. St. Joseph and all the saints.
2. All just souls upon earth.
3. The seraphim.
4. The cherubim.
5. The thrones.
6. The dominations.
7. The virtues.
8. The powers.
9. The principalities.
10. The archangels.
11. The angels.
12. The Blessed Virgin Marj.
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 651
SEVEN DAYS' DEVOTION TO THE SACKED HEART; OR, MEDITATIONS
ON THE SEVEN WORDS OF OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS.
Prayer.
O divine heart of Jesus, I desire to be Thy faithful disciple.
Yes, I will strive, with the help of Thy grace, to meditate on
the treasures of love hidden in those adorable words, which the
heart of Mary carried away from Calvary as a precious inherit
ance, and which our holy mother the Church carefully preserves
in the holy Gospel.
But the inconstancy of my mind continually banishes the
recollection with which I ought to pray. O my God, Thou
knowest my weakness, my tepidity, my frailty. I can do noth
ing without Thee. O Mary, who didst treasure in Thy heart,
and didst meditate on, the words of Jesus, in order to preserve
in thee the flames of divine love, obtain for me, I beseech thee,
a share in thy spirit of prayer. Amen.
Sunday.
FIRST MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
" Father forgive them; for they know not what they do."
O prayer dictated by the heart of Jesus Himself ! O abyss
of goodness! Before thinking of His mother, His friends,
Himself, the first words Jesus utters on the cross are for His
executioners, His accusers, His iniquitous judges, for a people
who blasphemed Him. His first care is for those who most
need it, but who deserve it the least.
Each word is a character of fire, which pierced the heart of
His Father. Jesus complains not of their ingratitude, their
cruelty, their malice. He excuses and extenuates their sin.
" Father, forgive them." They are Thy children, Thy
creatures. Thou wouldst not condemn the work of Thy hands.
Look upon Thy Son; listen to the voice of His blood, which
asks mercy for His brethren. I beseech Thee, by the tender
ness of that sweet name of Father, by the obedience I have ren
dered Thee, the thorny crown which surrounds My head, the
nails which pierce My hands and feet, the blood which flows
from My body. " Father, forgive them," because I forgive
them ; I, whom they have injured. Visit Me witli death, tor
ments, the cross, — all is the same to me, provided Thou dost
g52 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACKED HEART.
forgive those wlio caused My death. Behold how this heart of
Jesus has loved mankind !
The heart of Jesus is the same on the altar as on the cross.
His love has not changed. He still loves those who love Him so
little. He loves those who love Him not, who hate, blaspheme,
and insult Him. For us He shows to His Father the wounds,
the marks of which He still preserves ; for us Jesus still says,
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Sin is a mixture of malice and ignorance. Our Kedeemer,
when He prays for us, seeks to excuse us. On the altar, as on
Calvary, Jesus is a victim, a mediator, and not a judge ; He ex
cuses the malice of sin, and speaks only of its ignorance. O
Lord, how blind am I when I consent to sin ! not comprehend
ing all the evil I do myself, and the punishment I deserve.
Yet my ignorance is not wholly voluntary. Make me compre
hend what sin is, and give me such a horror of it that I may
never commit it again.
If this beloved Son prayed to His Father for those who cru
cified Him, what will He not do for those who wish to serve
Him? Can we fail in confidence when we have so powerful an
intercessor with God? O my Jesus, how infinitely worthy of
love art Thou ! Oh, that I had a thousand lives, in order to con
secrate them to Thy service, in acknowledgment of so generous
a love !
Jesus is our Model as well as our Eedeemer. His prayer is
an example in support of the lessons which He had given during
His life. This good Master here practises what He had taught
upon the mount. "You have heard it said, Love your neigh
bor, and hate your enemy : but I say to you, Love your enemies ;
do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who perse
cute and calumniate you : that you may be the children of your
Father in heaven, Who makes His sun to rise on the just and the
unjust. If you only love those who love you, what shall be
your reward? do not the heathens as much? "
Such is the teaching of the heart of Jesus. It is impossible
to love Him truly if we do not practise this great lesson. How
many times have I not closed my heart to His teaching ! But
what heart can fail to be softened by these words, however little
it may reflect, ' ' Father, forgive them ; for they know not what
they do"?
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACEED HEAKT. 653
Do you find it difficult to pardon a serious injury, a sharp
word, an unfortunate quarrel, a spiteful satire ? Look upon
the heart of Jesus praying for you whilst you offend Him. If
He had revenged Himself on you, what would have become of
you? where would you now be?
You answer that a great injury has been done you ; that
you cannot thus abandon your interests. Behold the injury
which He receives. Compare what He suffers with what you
endure ; compare His words with yours, ' ' Father, forgive them, ' '
etc.
He excuses His executioners ; you are full of reproaches
against those of whom you believe you have reason to complain.
He weeps over their misery ; you make their trials a subject of
gratification. He died in order to save them ; you will render
them no service, nor even salute them when you meet. Are
you the child of this merciful heart?
Act of Reparation.
Prostrate at Thy feet, O my divine Master, I most humbly
ask Thy pardon for having followed so ill Thy precept and Thy
example — I, who, far from forgiving the slightest offence, have
only sought to revenge myself by rendering injury for injury.
O faithful and generous heart of Jesus, Thou forgettest our
sins and the torments they have caused Thee in order to pre
serve Thy guilty children. Pour forth over me, and all the
souls consecrated to Thy sacred heart, the waters of that mercy
of which Thou art the infinite source, renewing amongst us that
union of the early Christians, who had but one heart and one
soul.
Ah, Lord, Thy words converted the soldiers of Calvary ;
will they make no impression on my heart? O Jesus, suffer
not that this should ever be ; but, as Thou didst so generously
forgive Thy enemies, grant that, for the love, of Thee, I may
pardon those who have offended me ; so that Thou mayst forgive
me my offences now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus, Ocean of Goodness.
O heart of my good Master, this first lesson from Thy cross
fills my heart with the most entire confidence.
O Lord, Thou didst say, ' ' When I shall be raised from the
654 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
earth, I will draw all things to Myself." I now comprehend
the love by which Thou hast gained the hearts of these children
of men, in the midst of whom Thou dost delight to dwell, hid
den under such obscure veils. Heart of Jesus, ocean of good
ness, while Thou dost renew the sacrifice of Calvary in order to
apply its merits to me, I give and consecrate myself entirely to
Thee. Too often have I renewed the ignominy of Thy passion.
Grant that I may participate in the spirit and effects of Thy
divine prayer ; and commend me to Thy heavenly Father, that,
purified in Thy precious blood, I may closely imitate Thee,
never preserving in my heart any emotion of hatred or revenge ;
so that I may say with confidence, "Father, forgive me, as I
forgive." Amen.
Monday.
SECOND MEDITATION ON THE HEART OP JESUS.
" Amen, I say to thee, This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."
Heart of Jesus, throne of mercy, to thee we may fly in our
utmost necessities when tried and forsaken. I come in spirit
to assist at the sacrifice of Calvary, and meditate on that sen
tence to which Thou didst give utterance. Oh, who shall fear
approaching Thee, divine Saviour, when Thou hast made such
a promise to the repentant thief? That humble penitent asked
of Thee only a simple remembrance when Thou shouldst come
into Thy kingdom ; and it is Thy kingdom itself which Thou
promisest. Who but Jesus could have made such a promise?
He gives without delay; He promises and gives at the same
time.
He gives without reserve: " Thou shalt be with Me." His
kingdom, His eternal happiness, He delights to share with those
whom He names His servants, His friends, His brethren. He
gives cheerfully: "Amen, I say to you, this day thou shalt
be with Me in paradise." Mistrust not My power. My cross
is the key which will open heaven. Mistrust not My heart;
should I be in this condition if I had not the wish to save you?
Fear not thine own unworthiness ; I am come to seek sinners ;
My glory is to change their hearts and convert them into saints.
Our Lord said to the Blessed Mai^aret Mary, ' c If men would
bnt acknowledge My love, that which I have done for them
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 655
would appear trifling to Me." His heart is the throne of
mercy, of inexhaustible goodness. He is still full of love for
those guilty ones, also crucified by sin. From the depths of
His sanctuary He regards them, calls them, awaits them, and is
ready to pardon their ingratitude at the first sight of a contrite
and humble heart. Oh, how good a God do we serve ! Whence
comes it, O Lord, that so few know and seek Thee? Alas! on
Calvary two thieves suffered with Thee; both had the same
Redeemer, the same example of patience before their eyes ; for
both Thy blood flowed ; but one alone profited by Thy mercy.
Amongst those who surround Thy altar suffer not that any
should be found so unfortunate as to resist Thy advances, and
doubt in the mercy of Thy adorable heart.
Not only to repentant sinners does the heart of Jesus address
these words, " To-day thou shalt be with Me in paradise."
When the soul is in a state of grace, it knows well that the
kingdom of God is within itself. Jesus realizes His promise :
' c If any love Me, My Father will love him, and We will come
to him, and take up Our abode in him." To be with Jesus is
a paradise, even in this world. If Jesus be with us, no enemy
can hurt us. He who lives without Jesus is miserably poor ;
but he who possesses Him is very rich. Be humble and peace
ful, and Jesus will be with you; be fervent and gentle, and
Jesus will dwell with you. You cannot be happy without lov
ing and being loved ; but if Jesus is not above all in your heart,
you will be oppressed with chagrin and sadness. In practice I
understand little what it is to love Jesns above all things. If I
examine my heart, I find it full of the world and of self. O
divine heart of Jesus, make Thyself known and loved by Thy
poor servant! Teach me the simplicity which leads to Thee
alone by an upright intention; teach me the purity of heart
which loves and tastes Thee in all things. Ah, when Thou art
about to visit my soul in holy communion, say to it in the
early morning, c ' This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise. ' '
Act of Reparation.
My Lord and my God, victim of love in the adorable
Eucharist, in which Thou offerest Thyself in sacrifice a thou
sand times each day, would that I could offer Thee as often the
656 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
homage of my sorrow and regret for not having recognized Thy
love, and responding to it only by indifference, forgetfulness,
contempt, and ingratitude I Oh, was not the ignominy of Calvary
sufficient? Must Thou, even amongst Thy children, meet with
so much coldness and irreverence, slothfulness in Thy service,
resistance to Thy grace, and inconstancy in good resolutions?
0 most loving heart, I beseech Thee put an end to the reign of
self-love in my soul. Come and make Thy dwelling there, and
1 will listen to Thy voice, and hear Thee utter those sweet
words, "If thou wilt, thou shalt be with Me in paradise."
Amen.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus, Throne of Mercy.
Heart infinitely merciful, I recommend to Thee my person
and my life, my actions, my prayers, my desires. I wish only
to make use of my body and soul in Thy service, to serve, honor,
and glorify Thee. Throne of mercy, in which divine justice
embraces and pardons the sinner, I place all my trust in Thee.
Destroy in me whatever displeases Thee ; place therein those
virtues which may render me pleasing to the Lord ; imprint Thy
fear and love in my soul, so that I may never forget Thee, nor
deliberately separate myself from Thee by sin ; and let my name
be written on and never effaced from Thy heart, O my loving
Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday.
THIRD MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
, behold thy son. Behold thy mother.'1'1
O tenderness of the heart of Jesus, which confided us to His
holy Mother ! The Lord Jesus in the midst of His torments
omitted nothing which concerned His office as Saviour. He was
solicitous for all His brethren, and procured for men an asylum
to which they might have recourse in all their necessities.
Already He had given His Father to be our Father by the
words, " Our Father, "Who art in heaven." Now He gives us
His Mother in order that we may be His brethren.
Let us appreciate such a prerogative, and comprehend also
the mystery hidden under these words of the Gospel, "The
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 657
disciple whom Jesus loved." St. John is not distinguished by
his own name, but by that which is common to all of us, for we
are also disciples of Jesus, and disciples loved so dearly that we
may say with the great apostle, i ' He loved me, and delivered
Himself up for me. ' '
O tenderness of the heart of Jesus, which permits us to
share His title of child of Mary ! Oh, the greatness of the gift
which Jesus makes us by this solemn bequeathal ! He desires
that we should have for Mary the filial love by which His own
heart was filled, and that this most holy mother should have for
her children of Calvary the care and affection which she always
had for Jesus.
Consider that the heart of Jesus addresses the like words to
you when you have the happiness of hearing the holy Mass :
4 ' Love My Mother ; she is thine. Confide in her powerful
protection, rely on her tenderness." Yes, let us love Mary;
she will teach us to love Jesus as she loved Him herself. Ad
mirable school of the heart of Jesus ! henceforth let us love this
sacred Heart alone.
Examine yourself in presence of this adorable heart. What
is your devotion for the Blessed Virgin? Does it not consist
more in words than in constancy, in praying to her, and, above
all, in imitating her? Are you really the servant of the sacred
heart of Jesus? You bear the name of being so: then verify it
by a truly Christian life. Study the sentiments of the heart of
Jesus in order to conform your own to them ; it is the spirit
He would desire you to have, and without which it is impossible
to preserve peace and union with your neighbor.
Act of Reparation.
O good and loving heart of Jesus, Who hast given me Thy
holy Mother as the most precious pledge of Thy tenderness, I
beseech Thee to pardon the indifference with which I have re
sponded to Thy love and to her watchful solicitude. How little
grateful have I been, O Jesus, for this favor, the source of so
many benefits to me ! Vouchsafe, through Thy infinite merits,
to make amends for my weakness and misery. Thy heart shall
be my treasure of gratitude, which I will offer to our heavenly
Father, to our blessed Mother, and to Thyself, adorable Re
deemer. Amen.
658 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus.
Heart infinitely loving and worthy of being loved, behold
me Lord Jesus, the child of Thy divine heart, penetrated with
gratitude for Thy infinite love, renew to Thee the homage of a
consecration which I desire to repeat every instant of the day
and night. O my Lord and Master! I consecrate to Thee my
mind, in order that Thou mayst direct it according to the light
of faith; my will, that it may be conformed to Thy holy will;
my heart and all its affections, that nothing may be found which
may be displeasing in the sight of Thy infinite purity when
Thou enterest therein in holy communion. Mary, my tender
mother I I love and honor thee in the heart of Jesus through
thine own immaculate heart, I desire to love thy divine Son
now and forever. Amen.
Wednesday.
FOURTH MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
O sad and touching complaint of the heart of Jesus to His
Father! Jesus voluntarily took upon Himself these sufferings.
He endured them with an ardent love, an invincible patience,
confidence, and boundless submission to the divine will. He
knows that His sufferings approach their termination. Why then
does He complain? Only to teach us the excess of His grief.
His soul is sad even unto death. He makes known to us the only
comfort of the afflicted. It is from God alone that we can re
ceive so efficacious a succor. Finally, Jesus reveals to us that
the cause of His sufferings does not proceed from Himself, but
from us ; and in the twenty-first Psalm the prophet declares the
cause of this severe abandonment.
Let us listen to the complaint of the heart of Jesus to His
children and to sinners. From the tabernacle in which the
divine Lord resides, from His altars on which He continu
ally renews throughout the world the sacrifice of the cross, Our
Lord still complains of being forsaken. Alas! we hasten to
worldly amusements, festivities, and enjoyments, without heed
ing the loss of time ; but when Jesus is concerned, that victim
of love Who is ever occupied in pleading for us with divine
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 659
justice, some will be heard to complain of the obligations im
posed on them by the Church ; others think it a trouble to walk
thither, or they carry with them a dissipated mind, a heart full
of tepidity and distractions, whilst their whole demeanor is void
of reverence. It is not His enemies alone who treat Him thus ;
but that which afflicts Him the most is that those whose hearts
are consecrated to Him also neglect Him. Children of the sacred
heart, listen to this complaint which comes forth from the sanctu
ary : ' c I have looked for one that would comfort Me amongst
My friends and My children, but their hearts are far from Me,
though with their lips they seem to honor Me. ' '
There is another lesson given us by Jesus in these mysterious
words. His heart vouchsafed to suffer the bitterness of aridity
and want of consolation, the necessary crucible in which souls
must be purified. Oh, who can sound the depth of Thy love,
generous heart of Jesus? Thou couldst not cease to be united
with Thy Father, for Thy will was always one with His, and as
God Thou didst never cease to be one with Him and the Holy
Ghost.
Nevertheless Thou didst vouchsafe to suffer interior trial
without consolation, exterior suffering without alleviation ; and
this double abandonment happens to those souls whom Thou
wouldst render worthy of Thy most intimate communications.
In meditating on Thy cross they comprehend this truth, and
exclaim, The more we suffer, the more God loves us!
Consider your own heart at the feet of our crucified Saviour.
Do you not complain of the effort it costs you to discharge your
daily duties, of the small consolation you find in the practice of
virtue or the exercise of Christian piety? You desire to ex
perience the species of fascination which leads you to satisfy
your natural inclinations ; and because the empire of grace is es
tablished in conflict with self-love, it seems to you as if your
soul positively rebelled against the practice of virtue. Oh, it is
at this very time that you must closely draw near to Jesus to
pray with Him. The better we suffer, the more we love God.
Act of Reparation .
O adorable Jesus, Who hast devoted Thyself for me to the
rigors of eternal justice, suffer me to seek a refuge in Thy sacred
heart, in which I place all my hope and
g60 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
O almighty and most just God, I present Thee the passion,
the wounds, merits, blood, and death of Jesus Christ. I place
His sacred heart between Thyself and me, for I have no
other defence against Thy judgment. Thou hast given me Thy
Son; He beholds my miseries, His heart feels them, His voice
implores my deliverance. Grant me all that He asks in my be
half in time and eternity.
Consecration to the Agonizing Heart of Jesus.
Place Thyself as a seal upon my heart, O my divine Master,
so that I may patiently suffer the trials Thou mayst see fit to
send me. Yes, my Jesus, I desire to consecrate myself to Thy
heart, agonizing under the weight of divine justice and the
burden of my sins. Thou hast put aside Thine own honor,
Thine own will ; give me the courage to conquer myself, to
triumph over my slothf illness and my sins ; give me the strength
to suffer, and the grace to love Thee forever. Amen.
Thursday.
FIFTH MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
"I thirst."
Oh, what a severe and physical thirst was this ! The extreme
anguish which Jesus had endured during ten hours, without one
moment's rest, had enkindled in His breast a devouring fire.
The blood which flowed from His wounds increased each moment
this painful torture; nevertheless Jesus endured it three long
hours on the cross without complaining; and when He does
complain, it is not to be comforted, but, in order to suffer
more by tasting the vinegar, and at the same time to accomplish
the will of His Father, as expressed in the Holy Scripture, He
contented Himself with a single word, "I thirst." Thus did
He expiate for our sensuality, in order to teach us to make our
sufferings known with resignation and without impatience.
This thirst was also mysterious ; it was the thirst of His soul
devoured with love for His Father and for all mankind. Jesus
had an ardent desire to accomplish the will of His Father.
During His life He had said, c ' My meat is to do the will of
Him that sent Me." Now He says that it is His thirst.
4 ' Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after justice. ' ' An-
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 661
other desire filled the heart of Jesus — it was to suffer for us.
In the Garden of Olives He had besought His Father to take
away the chalice. On the cross He says that He still thirsts.
" Still more, O Lord!" exclaims St. Francis Xavier, who
understood the generosity of such a thirst.
From His altar Jesus says the same to me. He thirsts for
my love ; thirsts for me, that I may have a zeal for others, in
order that I may contribute to the salvation of souls as far as in
my power. There is yet another thirst which Jesus has, which
I can relieve : the poor are His members ; in them He suffers
both hunger and thirst. How few, when giving alms, behold
Him, by a lively faith, under the guise of poverty ! But the
adorer of the sacred heart should strive to imbue himself with
the sentiments of Jesus, in order to conform his own to them.
"What am I, O Lord, compared to what Thou dost expect to
find in me? Alas! I behold in my soul only tepidity in Thy
love, nay, an absolute void when there is question of loving Thee.
Self-love restrains me in the narrow circle of my personal inter
ests ; I exact much from others, whilst I cannot bear the slight
est suffering without exaggerated complaint or murmuring at
any involuntary annoyance which I may have to suffer ; and in
place of the virtues which Thou requirest of me, I offer Thee,
with Thy executioners of Calvary, only a bitter and unpleasant
draught.
Act of Reparation.
Behold me, O Lord Jesus, prostrate witli a lively faith before
Thy divine majesty, to make reparation to Thee for having been
hitherto so ungrateful in Thy service. There lives not one full
of good will and affection for me whom I do not love in return,
and rejoice to visit, whilst I forget and abandon Thee, O heart
of Jesus, wTorthy of the adoration of men and angels. Heart
truly worthy to possess the hearts of all mankind, vouchsafe to
change this heart of mine ; purify and inflame it with Thy love,
that, becoming faithful and fervent, I may endeavor to practise
virtue amongst those who bear like me the name of children of
Thy sacred heart. Amen.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus, Source of Living Waters.
Lord Jesus, Thou hast said these sweet words, u If any one
thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. ' ' Thou art the fountain
662 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
of living waters which flow for eternal life, and at the same time,
Thou art that Saviour from Whom I hear that mysterious com,
plaint " I thirst." Ah, loving Eedeemer, Thou thirsteth after
this heart of mine ; I beseech Thee take it, and place it for ever-
more within Thine own. Teach me the holy art of zeal and
charity, in order to make Thee known and loved by those with
whom I have any influence. Let this living water— that is to
say, that grace of which Thy heart is the fruitful source— spring
up in my understanding, in order to enlighten it; in my mem
ory, to purify it; in my will, to direct it; and in my heart, to
sanctify and inflame it with Thy holy love. Amen.
Friday.
SIXTH MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
" All is consummated."
Our Lord fully accomplished everything for which He came
into the world. Jesus looked back upon His life, from His
birth in the stable to the last scene on Calvary. He reflected
on the various parts He had enacted as Mediator, Eedeemer,
Teacher, Lawgiver, High Priest, and Guide to eternity, and
found that He had accomplished everything, and done all with
perfection. He had preached the evangelical truths, confirmed
His doctrine by miracles, re-established the kingdom of God,
destroyed the slavery of the devil, sanctified all the elect by one
single sacrifice, and traced the model for every virtue. ' c All is
consummated."
Jesus reflected on the prophecies which announced the
labors, humiliations, indignities, and sufferings which divine
justice exacted in order to efface our crimes ; and seeing that all
was accomplished, without having failed in a single point, His
soul was filled with joy at having satisfied His Father and saved
mankind. "All is consummated."
Our Lord reflected on all the good He had done to mankind
during His life, and found that He had spared nothing in their
favor, but that He had given them everything — His blood, His
strength, His graces, His merits, His doctrine, all the moments
of His life, and all the tenderness of His heart. " All is con
summated."
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 663
One glance over the future showed our divine Lord all the
children of His Church until the end of the world. He beheld
the treasures of His merits open to all in the sacraments, the
teaching of His doctrine perpetuated throughout all ages by the
authority of this holy Church; He beheld the zeal of the
apostles, the courage of the martyrs, the purity of the virgins.
The love of the heart of Jesus has omitted nothing. i < All is
consummated."
Jesus has fully accomplished everything in my regard. What
has not this good Master done for me ? How many graces have
I not received since that of baptism, besides the benefits, in
common with others, of creation, redemption, and vocation to
Christianity ? How many special graces has He not granted me,
by my birth of Christian parents, my religious education, even
within the shade of the sanctuary and in the heart of Jesus ?
also by good example, wise and prudent direction, the reception
of the sacraments, missions, and daily assistance at the holy sac
rifice of the Mass. Oh, what treasures have been opened to me,
if I had but profited by them sufficiently ! Even to my own
soul may Jesus say from the altar, " All is consummated. What
could I do for My vineyard that I have not done?"
What have I myself done to consummate the work of my salva
tion? What shall I render Thee, O Lord, for so many benefits?
On Thy part all is consummated, but on mine everything yet
remains to be done. I must concur in the work of my salva
tion, in order that the merits of my Saviour's passion may be
applied to my soul : I must earnestly labor to purify my soul,
conquer my evil inclinations, and faithfully accomplish the duties
of my state.
I must imitate the example of Jesus Christ: pardon my
enemies, sacrifice my interests to the glory of God, mortify my
senses, render good for evil, destroy the reign of sin wherever I
discover it, omit no good which may possibly be done, and not,
lose a moment of the time which is given me in order to gain
eternity.
Examen and Resolutions.
These great words, " All is consummated," comprise the
life of him who passes from time to eternity. Happy is he who
664 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
can say with St. Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have
ended my course, I have kept the faith ; there remains for me
only to await the crown. ' '
Now will end the labors, trials, and sacrifices of virtue.
"All is consummated." The crown only remains; worldly
joys have ended — vain pleasures, frivolous amusements, riches,
and earthly glory, — "All is consummated." Eternity only
remains.
0 my God, if this moment was the last of my life, could I
confidently say, "All is consummated " ? Have I observed Thy
law, fulfilled Thy commandments, avoided what Thou dost forbid,
and accomplished the duties which have been imposed on me?
Have I loved Thee above all things, and my neighbor as my
self? Have I received trials with resignation, and joy with
thanksgiving, as coming from the hand of God ? Have I asked
pardon for my sins, and pardoned those who have offended me?
Do not quit Our Lord without a generous resolve to sacrifice
to His love what He requires of you.
Act of Reparation.
1 cast myself at the foot of Thy cross, adorable Jesus, in
order to beg Thy forgiveness for my continual opposition to Thy
divine example. Alas ! far from endeavoring to finish the work
Thou hast confided to me, I have destroyed Thy image in my
soul by my sins. The good resolutions with which Thy grace in
spires me encounter only dissipation, inconstancy, self-love, and
vanity, as continual obstacles to Thy mercy. O Lord, Who hast
given me everything with so much goodness, grant me the addi
tional favor nevermore to abuse it. Grant, I beseecli Thee, that I
may fully avail myself of all the blessings with which Thou load-
est me, that I may eagerly seek them and faithfully use them;
and that my life may be a life of gratitude, as Thine, O loving
Lord, was one of goodness and infinite generosity. Amen.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus, from the Fulness of
which We have All Received.
Most bountiful and generous Saviour, in Whom I live and
move and have my being, Whom Thou hast purchased with a
great price, it is from Thee that all good gifts proceed ; I belong
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 665
to Thee by the sacred titles named in Thy holy Gospel. O my
Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, to Thy hands the Eter
nal Father has committed the children of men, and through Thee
we have access to the throne of mercy. Prostrate before the
throne of Thy love, I consecrate to Thee my body, my soul, my
Jife, all that I am, and all that I have or hope to receive.
Vouchsafe, according to the riches of Thy glory, to strengthen
my soul by Thy grace, and dwell by faith in my heart ; so that,
being rooted and grounded in charity, I may understand with
Thy saints what is the height, and length, and depth, and breadth
of Thy love, which surpasseth all understanding. Finally, grant,
O Lord, that at the hour of death I may confidently say, " All
is consummated." Amen.
Saturday.
SEVENTH MEDITATION ON THE HEART OF JESUS.
" Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit"
Oh, how full of filial confidence is this prayer of Jesus ! Be
hold the last words of the Son of God, which ought to make a
particular impression on the hearts of His children. I will
meditate upon them, in order to remember them all the days of
my life, and repeat them again at the hour of my death, in
union with my divine Master.
"My Father!" O name of confidence and love, which
softens the rigors of death. "I commend my spirit." Jesus
speaks not of His riches. He has none, and not one of His
creatures can carry them to the other world. He spoke not of
His honor — He had renounced it ; He died contemned by all.
O sweet and loving Jesus, render my heart like to Thine. Our
Lord speaks not of His body ; He thought but little of it ; He
abandoned it to suffering and death. " Father, into Thy
hands I commend My spirit." Thou alone canst receive it,
Thou hast given it to Me. I confide it to Thee alone. I place
it in Thy hands, as belonging entirely to Thee.
O Jesus, Thou dost commend to Thy Father the souls of Thy
elect. Christians by attaching themselves to Jesus Christ be
come, says St. Paul, "one and the same spirit with Him."
"What a consolation for a true servant of the sacred heart, who
makes it his study to renew daily his act of consecration, giving
666 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART.
himself to this loving Saviour ! The day will come when all
will fade away, whether we will or no ; when the just as well
as the sinner must give back to the earth the body formed of
the earth, giving back to God the spirit which came from
God.
At present our soul is in our hands; we can do with it
whatever we please. We may deliver it up to the pleasures of
sense, the follies of the world, the love of earthly goods, the
blindness of error, the hardness of sin; or we may, on the con
trary, with the assistance of grace, exercise it in virtue, raise it
to heaven, unite it to God, and fill it with His love; but what
ever part we take we must give it up into the hands of God.
In order to secure a favorable reception, let us give it now to
the heart of Jesus.
These words of Jesus are indeed a lesson to us. Our Lord
confirms by His example the doctrine that He has taught us,
recommending to us a childlike confidence in our heavenly
Father. 4 ' Your Father knoweth that you have need of all
these things ; be not solicitous, therefore, as the heathens are.
Behold the birds of the air; your heavenly Father feedeth
them : consider the lilies of the field ; not even Solomon in all
his glory was arrayed as one of these. How much more care
will not your heavenly Father take of you His children?"
O my Jesus, give me a heart like unto Thine. I am Thine
in life and death, trusting that Thou wilt again repeat in my
behalf Thy last words, 4 ' Father, I commend this soul, the soul
of this servant who is Mine, into Thy merciful hands. ' '
How have I hitherto practised this childlike confidence
toward God? Every day I several times repeat the words,
" Our Father, Who art in heaven." Ah! is my heart in ac
cordance with my lips?
What is my confidence in the heart of Jesus? He has taken
me to His heart, mindful of His mercy, which is shown forth
from generation to generation to those who love and fear Him.
O loving Jesus, I feel my unworthiness, my weakness, my
poverty ; but I hear those sweet words coming from that adora
ble heart, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will refresh you." O Lord, wash my soul in the blood
which flows from Thy wounds, and give a new heart to all those
who in loving penitence invoke Thee. Amen.
AN HOUR'S ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 667
Act of Reparation.
0 my divine Jesus, why cannot I, by my reverential hom
age, make reparation for the neglect with which I have too
long repaid Thy love? I unite myself to the holy angels who
received Thy last sigh ; they were near Thee, O Lord, in order
to honor Thy victory ; let their praises make amends for my
want of gratitude, so long, alas, withheld.
1 unite myself to the heart of Thy blessed Mother, who
meditated so lovingly on Thy last words; let the fervor of Thy
love supply for the coldness of mine. Keceive, O my Jesus,
and place within Thy heart Thy child, who returns to Thee
sincerely resolved to love Thee above all things.
Consecration to the Heart of Jesus.
King and centre of the hearts of all mankind, heart of
Jesus, truly king of all hearts, reign as a sovereign master in
my affections now and forever. I will study more and more to
know and love Thee, and strive with all my power to make
Thee known and loved by others. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to give
me the spirit of devotion to Thy sacred heart, in which I be
seech Thee to receive me, with all those in the salvation of
whom I am most deeply interested. Oh, how good it is to dwell
in the heart of Jesus ! I will unburden my heart to that of my
Lord and Saviour. I will confide to Him all my thoughts and
all the affections of my soul, beseeching Him to enlighten, com
fort, and conduct me to His divine Father. O Jesus, into Thy
hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
Hn ibcmr's Hfcoration before tfoe Messefc Sacrament,
FOR THE FORTY HOURS, HOLY THURSDAY, OR OTHER FEASTS
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
ACTS TO BE MADE BEFORE EACH VISIT TO THE MOST BLESSED
SACRAMENT.
Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which Thou
bearest to men, dost remain with them, day and night, in this
sacrament, full of mercy and of love, expecting, inviting, and
receiving all who come to visit Thee : I believe that Thou art
present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the abyss of my
668 AN HOUR'S ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
nothingness I adore Thee, and I thank Thee for all the favors
which Thou hast bestowed upon me, particularly for having
given me Thyself in this sacrament, for having given me for my
advocate Thy most holy Mother Mary, and for having called
me to visit Thee in this church.
I, this day, salute Thy most loving heart, and I wish to
salute it for three ends : first, in thanksgiving for this great gift ;
secondly, in compensation for all the injuries Thou hast re
ceived from Thy enemies in this sacrament; thirdly, I wish,
by this visit, to adore Thee in all places in which Thou art least
honored and most abandoned in the Holy Sacrament. My Jesus,
I love Thee with my whole heart. I am sorry for having
hitherto offended Thy infinite goodness. I purpose, with the
assistance of Thy grace, nevermore to offend Thee; and, at
this moment, miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being
to Thee. I give Thee my entire will, all my affections and de
sires, and all that I have. From this day forward, do what
Thou wilt with me, and with whatever belongs to me. I ask
and desire only Thy holy love, the gift of final perseverance,
and the perfect accomplishment of Thy will. I recommend to
Thee the souls in purgatory, particularly those who were most
devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to most holy Mary ; and
I also recommend to Thee all poor sinners. Finally, my dear
Saviour, I unite all my affections with the affections of Thy
most loving heart ; and, thus united, I offer them to Thy Eter
nal Father, and I entreat Him, in Thy name, and fo?1 Thy
sake, to accept them.
THE FIRST QUARTER OF AN HOUB.
Five Minutes.
Place yourself in the presence of Jesus, the good God, the
Almighty Lord of heaven and earth, Who is there awaiting
your meed of adoration, and respect, and love, and reparation.
O my Lord Jesus, Son of God, Son of Mary, I believe
that Thou art here present, I know it, I feel it in my soul that
Thou art here before me. And if I did not feel this, and
didst Thou hide Thyself from my soul as well as from my eyes,
still would I believe, because Thou hast said it, O God of
AN HOUR'S ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 669
truth, Who canst not deceive. I adore Thee, I prostrate myself
before Thee in the most profound respect and adoration.
Kecite a decade of the Rosar y in a spirit of adoration.
Five Minutes.
Think what happiness is yours to be admitted thus to the
presence of Jesus. How many sick people sigh for Him and
cannot come to Him. How many mothers long to come and
speak to Him of their children and all their cares, and cannot
leave home to visit Him. How many in distant lands where
churches are few, or in the lonely part of the country, long
with an exile's longing to kneel before the lighted altar of adora
tion as you do.
Oh, thank Jesus from your heart for the great privilege
you enjoy.
Kecite a decade of the Rosary from a spirit of thanksgiving.
Five Minutes.
Think how Jesus with a boundless liberality opens to-day
the infinite treasures of His heart. You are poor ; come and
be made rich. You are ill ; He will cure you. Come, if your
heart is troubled and anxious ; He can calm it. Come, trem
bling, guilty soul ; come and be pardoned. Oh, how happy I
am, my God, how happy I am ! I have come to spend this
blessed hour with Thee, and Thou canst send me forth a saint.
My heart is open ; O Jesus, fill it with Thy grace, that it may
become pleasing to Thee.
O Mother Mary, help me to keep all the gifts my good
Master gives to me.
Recite one decade of the Rosary to obtain confidence and
fervor.
SECOND QUARTER OF AN HOUR*
Five Minutes.
Speak to Jesus in the Eucharist ; compassionate the suffer
ings of His passion, and His sufferings in the tabernacle where
men neglect Him. I suffer for you, My child, He says from
the tabernacle. Your sins have merited punishment, and that
punishment I have taken upon Me. If the hand of God has
not lain heavily upon you, if you are happy, if your parents,
your health, are spared to you, all is due to My love for you.
670 AN HOUR'S ADORATION- BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
What afflicts Thee in the tabernacle, dear Jesus? The neg
lect of souls who leave Me alone, or grow quickly weary of
praying to Me ; the sacrileges of some ; the blasphemies of many
who join My enemies against Me. O My child, make reparation
to Me for these !
Recite a decade of the Rosary in union with Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament.
Five Minutes.
The best means to make reparation to Jesus is to become
yourself holy and pleasing to Him. Tell God that you desire
this, and desire it sincerely. My Jesus ! I desire that from this
moment henceforth my heart should be Thine only. Hitherto
each day has seemed only to strengthen and increase my faults
and bad habits, so making Thee suffer more and more ; but now,
my God, I wish only to please Thee. I will no longer be
amongst those who neglect Thee and cause Thee pain. Inspire
me, my God, tell me what Thou wishest me to do.
O Mary, help me to amend my life !
Recite a decade of the Rosary for this intention.
Five Minutes.
Tel! Jesus some of the means you intend to take in order to
carry out your duties perfectly ; how you mean to be a saint ;
you will % occasions of sin, you will listen to all holy thoughts
and warnings of conscience that pass across your heart, you will
pray with recollection, you will frequent the sacraments.
Recite a decade of the Rosary to beg your Mother Mary to
take your resolutions under her protection and to help you to
keep them.
THIRD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
Five Minutes.
Listen to Jesus : " My child, since you wish to comfort Me,
to amend your life, to become a saint, commence to-day by ac
cepting, in atonement for your faults and in reparation for the
outrages I suffer from men, all the troubles which I shall send
you. Do not complain, do not murmur; say with Me, if they
seem hard to bear : 4 O Father, if it be possible, let this chalice
pass away; ' but always add with Me : « Yet not My will, but
Atf HOUR'S ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 671
Thine be done. ' Then submit and adore and bless My will,
knowing that all I permit is for your salvation. ' 9
Say a decade of the Rosary in a spirit of resignation to God's
holy will.
Five Minutes.
Again listen to Jesus : "In order to expiate your own faults
and in reparation for the outrages done Me, you must become
filled witli a lively faith and a profound respect towards My
majesty hidden in the tabernacle. Everything around the altar
should speak to your soul of this. The lamp, which ever burns
before Me, tells you that I am present. The sanctuary, enclosed
and silent, reminds you of My sanctity and union with God.
The tabernacle tells of My love for a hidden life. The purity
of the sacred vessels warns you of the purity I look for in your
soul."
Say a decade of the Eosary to obtain the gift of faith.
Five Minutes.
Once more listen to Jesus : " Since you wish to expiate your
faults, and to atone to Me for the outrages done Me, try to gain
souls to My service. There are souls dear to Me at this moment
blaspheming Me, and dying, only to be buried in hell. My
child, My child, you can win them back to Me. Pray, suffer,
atone, and ask pardon for them."
Say a decade of the Rosary for souls on the point of death.
FOURTH QUARTER OF AN HOUB.
Five Minutes.
My God, I desire to do all that Thou hast asked of me;
permit me, prostrate at Thy feet, to declare my devotion to
Thy service. Too long, 0 Lord, have I served the devil and
the world ! I will now, in Thy presence, renew with true sin
cerity the promises I made at baptism : ' * I renounce the devil
with all his works, the world with all its pomps, the flesh with
all its temptations, and I will cling to Jesus alone forever and
ever."
Repeat this several times, and say a decade of the Rosary to
obtain strength to keep your good resolutions.
672 AN HOUR'S ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Five Minutes.
My God, there are two graces which I beg of Thee to give
me, that I may keep all my good resolutions. The first is a
great devotion to holy communion, that I may love it as St.
Teresa did when she braved tempest and storm, and the risk of
serious illness, that she might communicate, saying to those who
bade her take care of herself: " Let me, let me communicate!
I cannot live longer without Jesus." That I may love it like
St. Francis de Sales, the loud beating of whose heart told when
the tabernacle was opened.
That I may love it as a holy child whose whole life was spent
in preparation for communion. "This act of self-denial," she
would say, " is to ornament the chamber of my heart for Jesus.
This duty will yield a sweet perfume there. Each act of silence
will spread flowers for His feet." Happy child I whilst living
for Jesus alone, she reaped the reward of her goodness even on
earth in the love of all around her.
Kecite a decade of the Eosary to obtain devotion to the Holy
Eucharist.
Fvoe Minutes.
The second grace I ask of Thee is devotion to the Blessed
Virgin. Mary and the Eucharist cannot be divided. You can
not love the Eucharist without loving the Mother of Jesus ; you
cannot be devout to Mary without feeling drawn to frequent
communion.
0 Jesus, let me love Mary as Thou didst love her !
Let me strive to please her as Thou didst.
O Jesus, make me docile to all her words, her commands,
her inspirations, as Thou wert obedient to them.
She is my Mother, for Thou gavest her to me. O Jesus,
before I leave Thy feet to-day say once more to Mary as Thou
didst on Calvary, " Mother, behold thy child."
Recite a decade of the Rosary to thank Mary for having
adopted you as her child.
Recommend to Jesus the Church, the intentions of the
Pope, and your parents ; ask His blessing, and leave the church
quietly.
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAXD.
673
H Urlp to tbe 1bols SLanfc.
ground hallowed bj tlie footprints of our divine Lord
and Saviour, the scene of His miracles and His passion,
the land endeared to us by the presence of His immaculate
Mother and her chaste spouse, St. Joseph, has for the Christian
more tender memories, perhaps, than any spot on earth.
As a fitting close to our book, come then with me, dear
JAFFA.
reader, and take the slight glimpse which onr space permits at
this cradle of Christianity.
Taking a steamer at Alexandria, the once magnificent city
of Egypt, a sail of two days brings us to JAFFA, the usual start
ing-point for the pilgrim to the Holy Land. Here we find
shelter and refreshment at the monastery and hospice of the
Franciscan Fathers, whose open doors give welcome to the
stranger, no matter what his country or his creed.
JAFFA, or JOPPE, as it was formerly called, is probably the
oldest port, and is on the site of one of the oldest cities in the
world. Here Noe is supposed to have entered the Ark, and
here he is said to have been buried. It is situated on a tongue
67^ A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
of land projecting into the Mediterranean, thirty-one miles
northwest of Jerusalem. It was once the port of Jerusalem,
and the landing-place of the cedars with which the temple was
built Here the prophet Jonas took ship to flee from the face of
the Lord, and here, in the house of Simon the tanner, St. I
raised Tabitha to life.
We read in the First Book of Machabees that Jonathan
Machabeus and his brother Simon attacked and captured the
city It was there that Jonathan met Ptolemee, the king of
JERUSALEM.
Egypt. It is uncertain when Jaffa first became the seat of a
Christian bishop. In more modern times it was taken by God
frey de Bouillon, but its fortifications were destroyed in 11 88 by
Saladin. They were rebuilt, however, by Kichard of England.
Later on, in 1253, it was occupied by St. Louis of France.
Finally, it fell into the hands of the Turks, who still have pos
session of it. The town at present has about 10,000 inhabi
tants of whom probably 1200 are Catholics. Its trade is in
cotton, corn, fruits, and corals; its oranges are the finest in all
Palestine and Syria, and its gardens and orange and citron
groves are deliciously fragrant and fertile.
The journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem was formerly made in
A TKIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 675
carts, out in 1890 a railway, which connects the two places, was
opened. On the way we pass the ancient town of EAMLEH, and
a few miles further on LYDDA. It was in the latter town that
St. Peter cured the man Eneas who was "ill of the palsy,"
and had kept his bed for eight years, and from there he went to
Jaffa to raise Tabitha to life. Lydda is nine miles from Jaffa,
and, considering all circumstances, is busy and prosperous. It
MOUNT OLIVET.
was an Episcopal see as far back as the year 404. St. George,
the patron saint of England, was a native of Lydda, and was
buried there. A church was built over his remains, and named
in his honor, but it was destroyed in the early part of the
eighth century, when the country was taken possession of by
the Saracens. It was afterwards rebuilt, but again destroyed,
to be rebuilt by Richard Coaur de Lion.
We now reach JERUSALEM. The Holy City lies near the
summit of a broad mountain-ridge. This mountainous tract
everywhere forms the precipitous western wall of the great
valley of the Jordan and the Dead Sea. All around are higher
676 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
hills- on the east, the Mount of Olives; on the south, the Hill
of Evil Counsel, rising directly from the valley of Ennom or
lliimom, as it is now called; on the west, the ground rises
gently to the borders of the great Wady ; while on the north a
bend of the ridge connected with the Mount of Olives bounds
the prospect at the distance of more than a mile. Towards the
southwest the view is somewhat more open ; for here lies the
plain of Raphaim, beginning just at the southern brink of the
Valley of Hinnom, and stretching off southwest where it is
drained to the western plain. In the aorthwest, too, the eye
reaches along the upper part of the Yalley of Josaphat; and
from many points can discern the Mosque of Neby Samwil,
situated on a lofty ridge beyond the great "Wady.
Naturally, the great point of interest for the Christian in
Jerusalem is the CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHKE. This is
built so as to cover every part of Calvary sanctified by the
presence of Our Lord during His passion.
The name Calvary, called Golgotha in Hebrew, means
skull. An ancient tradition has it that the skull of Adam was
buried there, that it had been preserved and taken into the Ark
by Noe, whose son Sem afterward buried it in this mountain.
Another tradition relates that it was at this place that Abraham
prepared to sacrifice Isaac, and some Greek monks have a con
vent and chapel there built to commemorate that event. This
hill of Calvary is situated in the western part of Jerusalem, and
beyond it was a garden, and probably a villa, belonging to
Joseph of Arimathea. Between this garden and Calvary there
must have been a narrow valley , and here Joseph had a sepulchre
hewn out of the rock, which was in the eastern part of the
garden, facing Calvary. This sepulchre consisted of two rooms ;
in the inner one was the grave proper, also hewn out of the
rock ; the entrance from the outer apartment was very low and
was closed by rolling a large stone against it.
The church, which runs east and west, was built chiefly with
reference to the holy sepulchre and to the place where the
cross was planted. The sepulchre is right under the cupola
of the basilica. A great part of the rock of Calvary has been
left untouched, though the upper surface has undoubtedly been
smoothed ; this part, called the Chapel of Calvary, is reached by
ascending eighteen steps. The distance from the place where
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 677
the cross stood to the sepulchre is ninety feet. As we enter the
church from the south directly before us is the Stone of Unc-
tion, where Our Lord's body was placed when it was anointed
by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. It is the custom
among Catholics to kneel and kiss the stone as they enter. The
holy sepulchre, as we have said, is in the centre of a rotunda.
The chapel which encloses it is about twenty-six feet long by
eighteen broad, and contains two small chambers, to which the
only approach is by a door on the east side. The outer chamber
is called the Chapel of the Angel, the inner one is the sepul-
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
chre. The Chapel of the Angel is regarded as the place where
the angel appeared to the women who were coming to the
sepulchre on Easter morning. All that it cr ntains is a portion
of a marble slab, said to be the very stone which closed the
sepulchre, and on which, after he rolled it away, the angel sat.
A narrow, low door leads out of the chapel into a sort of grotto,
only seven feet by six, and eight or nine feet high. More than
half of this space is occupied by a kind of altar or pedestal, not
quite three feet high, which covers and protects the real sepul
chral couch where the body of Our Lord was laid.
Without doubting that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
corresponds with the true sites of the passion and resurrection
of Our Saviour, it may interest our readers if we trace its his-
67g A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
tory so as to ascertain the degree of firmness with which one
may hold the belief that it is the true site. That from the very
first the places where Our Lord was crucified and rose again
were visited and reverenced by many of the Christians of Jeru
salem it is impossible to doubt. The tomb, the pillar, the in
scription, the fixed feast, the annual rite were powerful helps to
that devotion which aimed at bringing the facts of the passion
and the lives of the martyrs more vividly before the mind, and
arousing for these last an imitative enthusiasm. " His sepul
chre is with us to this present day " (Acts ii. 29). This meant
much to the Jews whom St. Peter reminded of it, and considera
tions of the like order mean much to us to-day. Some forty years
after the crucifixion occurred the siege and destruction of Jeru
salem. During the siege the Christians in the city withdrew to
Pella, on the other side of the Jordan ; but the time was not
long enough to cause a break in their recollections. Besides, in
spite of the devastation and destruction which followed the col
lapse of the Jewish resistance, no violence could injure the rock
of Calvary or the tombs in the neighboring garden. The
Jewish revolt during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian was
the occasion, when suppressed, of an order prohibiting all Jews
from entering the city ; but this did not extend to the Chris
tians. Hadrian was determined to make Jerusalem a com
pletely Eoinan city under pain of death ; he renamed it, and
profaned both the site of the temple and the places made
sacred by Our Saviour's passion by pagan statues. When Con-
stantine resolved to build a church at Jerusalem on or near the
site of the passion, that site was found to be covered over by
a huge mound of earth, surmounted by a statue of Yenus, which
godless men had heaped there in order to efface all that was
most precious to Christians. Constantine had the earth re
moved, the rock tomb from which Our Saviour had risen was
found uninjured beneath it, architects were set to work, and
by the year A.D. 335 the entire site — including the place where
St. Helena found the cross, the Golgotha, and the cave of the
sepulchre, with the intervening ground — was occupied by a
symmetrical mass of buildings. But the place of the resur
rection, surrounded on three sides by porticoes, and having the
Basilica of the Saviour on the east side, was left open to the air.
In 614 Jerusalem fell into the hands of the Persians, who set the
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 679
basilica on fire. When they had retired, Bishop Modestus un
dertook the task of rebuilding it, but instead of the vast pile of
Constantine three edifices arose. Thus they remained till the
time of the crusades. After Jerusalem was taken by Godfrey
de Bouillon great building works were undertaken, and the re
sult, speaking generally, is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as
it is now.
"Within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre many other places
THE HALL OF THE LAST SUPPER IN ITS PRESENT STATE.
claim our attention. Crossing the rotunda, we come to the
Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, built on the spot where Our Lord
appeared to that penitent. About sixty feet further on is the
Prison of Christ. According to a pious legend, when Our
Lord arrived at Calvary, as everything was not in readiness for
the crucifixion, He and the two thieves were placed in a dry
cistern or grotto, which has since borne the above name. An
other altar close by marks the place where the soldiers divided
Our Lord's garments among them. Before ascending to the
chapel on Calvary there is the column of Improperia, or the
stone on which Our Lord sat when He was crowned with thorns
and mocked in the pretorium. Tradition tells us that after His
resurrection Our Lord appeared to His blessed Mother, who had
680
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAKD.
remained in the vicinity of His sepulchre during the three days
His body was entombed. The scene of this event is marked by
the Chapel of the Apparition. This chapel has three altars.
On the high altar in the centre the Blessed Sacrament is kept.
The one to the right is called the altar of relics, because a piece
of the true cross was venerated there till the year 1557, when
this precious relic was removed to Armenia. The altar to the
left contains a small portion of the pillar at which our blessed
Lord was scourged. Once a year, on the Wednesday in Holy
Week, the faithful are allowed to see and venerate this relic.
Descending a stairway, we find ourselves in the Chapel of
the True Cross. Here there are two altars, one dedicated to
St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantino, the other
to Dismos, the penitent thief. A further flight of stairs brings
us to the actual spot where the cross was found. It will be re
membered that St. Helena was divinely directed to this spot to
find the true cross, which had been lost for years. She had the
pagan temple pulled down, the accumulated rubbish removed,
and excavations made, until at last her search was rewarded by
the discovery of the three crosses. But, as the inscriptions were
detached, how to determine which of the three was the cross of
Christ? In this dilemma Macarius, the holy Bishop of Jeru
salem, conceived the idea of carrying the three crosses to a well-
known pious lady of the city who was lying dangerously ill.
In presence of the empress and her attendants two crosses were
applied to the sick woman without avail, but no sooner was
she touched with the third cross than she felt new life coursing
through her hitherto withered and paralyzed lirnbs, and she im
mediately arose from her bed in the full enjoyment of health
and strength. Later on a dead man who was touched by the
cross was restored to life, thus establishing without doubt its
authenticity. In another part of the basilica is the Chapel of
the Crucifixion. At the eastern end of this chapel are two
altars. Beneath the one on the left is a marble slab with a
round hole in the centre, through which the visitor may reach
to the hole in the solid rock in which the cross of Our Saviour
was planted. A little to the right, near the other altar, is the
rent in the rock made at the death of Our Lord, as recorded in
the Scripture : "The earth quaked and the rocks were rent"
(Matt, xxvii. 52).
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 681
Passing out from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, let us
risit the Ccenaculum^ or Chamber of the Last Supper. Here it
was that our blessed Lord instituted the Sacrament of the
Blessed Eucharist, and in an upper room of this same house the
Holy Ghost descended on the apostles at Pentecost. The
supper-room is about fifty feet long by thirty wide ; the build
ing is remarkable as being one of the few which escaped de
struction when the city was taken by Titus.
THE VALLEY OF JOSAPHAT.
Let us now visit the site of the temple on Mount Moria,
now occupied by the Mosque of Omer. The original temple
was destroyed by the Babylonians, but was afterwards rebuilt
on a scale of even greater grandeur than at first. During the
siege of Titus the building was again destroyed, and although
later on Julian the apostate attempted to rebuild it, flames of
fire issued from the earth, killing the workmen, and the work
was abandoned. In the year 636 a mosque was erected on the
site ; this passed from the possession of the Saracens to that of
the Christians, and back again to the Turks, more than once,
finally to become a mosque, which it is at the present day.
On the eastern side of Mount Moria is a wall the lower part
of which is believed by some to be a portion of the ancient
6g2 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
temple of Jerusalem. It is fifty-two yards long and fifty-six
feet high and is known as the WAILING PLACE. Here on
Friday evening the Jews of the city assemble, and, standing
with their faces to the wall, they pray with great earnestness,
rocking their bodies to and fro, lamenting the misfortunes of
their people.
A little east of Jerusalem is the YALLEY OF JOSAPHAT. It
is a deep, gloomy ravine between two and three miles in length
traversed by the brook Cedron, now a mere rivulet always dried
up in summer. On the eastern edge of the valley, lying under
the Mount of Olives, is the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANI, the scene
of Our Saviour's agony and bloody sweat. The Franciscan
Fathers have purchased and enclosed a great part of the garden.
"Within the enclosure is a grotto where Our Lord retired to pray,
and where, in His agony, the drops of bloody sweat went trick
ling down upon the ground. Here is the rock on which the
three apostles slept, and here a fragment of a pillar marks the
spot where Judas by a kiss betrayed the Son of man. Among
about fifty olive-trees in the garden are eight larger and older
than the rest ; some of these are nineteen feet in circumference,
and reliable persons in such matters state that some of these date
back to the days of Our Saviour.
Now let us turn back to the TOMB OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
We descend to the tomb by long flights of broad marble
steps. On the right, going down, are the tombs of St. Ann
and St. Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin, and on the
left is the tomb of her spouse, St. Joseph. Still farther down
is the vacant tomb of our blessed Mother, where her pure body
was laid until it was transplanted into heaven. We pass out of
the church, and begin the ascent of the Mount of Olives.
Near the summit of the mountain is a small mosque, and in
front of it a small edifice encloses the spot from which Our Lord
ascended to heaven. There the impression of His left foot is
imprinted on the rock. To the left is a higher part of the hill
on which the apostles stood looking up after Our Lord, when
the two angels appeared to them.
From the minaret of the mosque just mentioned is afforded
a fine view of the city, and of the country for miles around.
To the west lies Jerusalem, with its towers, domes, and min
arets, its great eastern wall rising out of the Valley of Josaphat.
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
683
To the south the heights of Bethlehem are visible ; to the east
Judea, a wide expanse of sterile, rocky hills and mountains;
farther on the valley of the Jordan ; and at its southern ex
tremity the Dead Sea. Beyond it and the valley of the Jordan
are the mountains of Moab and Amnon ; to the north of these
the mountains of Gilead.
Every Friday afternoon in Jerusalem all priests in com
munion with the Holy See make the Stations of the Cross.
They meet in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, whence
THE GROTTO OP THE AGONY.
they proceed in a body to Pilate's palace, where Our Lord
was condemned to death, and there begin the Stations. The
palace is now a Turkish barrack; in the hall is a marble
slab which marks the spot on which Our Saviour stood when
He was condemned to death : this is the First Station. The
Second is a little below, where once stood the Holy Stairs,
now in Kome, down which Our Lord walked, bowed down
by the weight of the cross. Near by is a convent of the
Sisters of Sion, the chapel of which covers the place where
Our Saviour was scourged, and afterwards crowned with thorns.
At the back of the altar in this chapel is a part of the
Ecce Homo Arch; it was from beneath this arch that Pilate
presented Our Lord to the Jews, saying: " Behold the man."
Passing into the street, and turning to the left, we reach the
684 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
Third Station. It is marked by a broken pillar leaning against
a wall ; it was here Our Lord fell for the first time. From this
we proceed till we come to another street turning to the right ;
up this street we find a slab in the wall : the Fourth Station,
where Jesus meets His afflicted Mother. Further on in the
same street is an excavation in the wall of a house : the Fifth
Station, where Simon of Gyrene helped to carry the cross.
Near this is the Sixth Station, the house of Veronica, who gave
Jesus a towel with which to wipe His face. At the end of the
street is the site of the Gate of Judgment : the Seventh Station,
where Our Lord fell a second time. A Greek convent occupies
the site of the Eighth Station, which is where Our Lord ad
dressed the women of Jerusalem. The street of the VIA DOLO-
ROSA ends here. The Ninth Station is on a mound on top of
which stands a Copt convent ; here a column marks the place
where Our Lord fell for the third time. The other five stations
are made in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the devo
tions conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given
in the Chapel of the Apparition.
Leaving Jerusalem by the Jaffa Gate, let us make our way
to Bethlehem. Going down and across the Valley of Hinnom,
we leave on our left the Hill of Evil Counsel, the garden of the
country-seat of Caiphas, and the tree on which Judas hanged
himself. To the right is shown the house of holy Simeon, and
further on we find the WELL OF THE WISE MEN. Tradition says
that the Magi stopped here to refresh themselves, and that the
star, which for awhile had disappeared, again shone forth and
they saw its image reflected in the water. Nearly a mile before
we reach Bethlehem we come to the TOMB or EACHEL. This
tomb, now about 3600 years old, is reverenced by Christians,
Jews, and Mohammedans. Near here a road branches off to
the POOLS OF SOLOMON. These pools are three in number, the
Upper, Middle, and Lower pools. They are immense reser
voirs, and originally supplied with water not only the enclosed
garden of Solomon, but the cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
The Lower Pool, which is five hundred and eighty-two feet in
length, two hundred and seven in breadth, and about fifty deep,
would, it is said, float the largest war- vessel. It is wonderful
how well preserved these basins are after the lapse of so many
centuries. Near the pools is the sealed fountain which Solomon
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
685
had made specially to supply water for the sacrifices in the
temple ; this he sealed so that nothing might pollute the water
in its course to the Holy of holies. To the left we see the FIELD
OF THE SHEPHERDS ; they were ' ' keeping the night-watches over
their flocks " when " an angel of the Lord stood by them "and
announced, " This day is born to you a Saviour, "Who is Christ
the Lord." A grotto marks the place where the angel stood.
GETHSEMANI.
The GROTTO OF THE SHEPHERDS was at one time the crypt of a
church erected on the scene of the apparition by St. Helena.
At last we reach BETHLEHEM, the birthplace of our Lord and
Saviour. It is built over the eastern extremity of a high hill,
and besides being one of the oldest is among the most prosperous
of all the towns in Palestine. It has a population of about five
thousand souls, nearly all Christians, who have successfully re
sisted Turkish oppression. The people are remarkable for their
good looks and their brave spirit. There is one broad street to
the village, at the extremity of which stands the magnificent
686 A TEIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
Church of the Nativity, erected in the year 327 by the Em
press Helena. The building is well preserved. The walls are
covered with mosaics, which are said to date from the building
of the church. The roof is made of immense beams of rough
cedar brought from Mount Lebanon.
The cave in which Our Saviour was born is below the level
of the floor of the church. The walls of this chapel are of
marble, hung round with silver lamps, embroidery, and orna
ments of various kinds. At the east end is the Altar of the
Nativity, and under it is a silver star surrounded by the words,
"Hie de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est" — "Here
Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary." A large number
of lamps, belonging to the Catholics, Greeks, and Armenians,
who own the chapel in common, are kept burning constantly.
Near this spot is the Chapel of the Manger, and opposite the
place of the manger is the Altar of the Wise Men.
Not far from the great basilica which rises over the stable
of Bethlehem, and a little to the south of it, is a subterranean
chapel known as THE GROTTO OF THE MILK. This chapel,
although the exclusive property of the Catholics, is much visited
by schismatics, Bedouin and Mohammedan women, and they
as well as the Catholic women supply the olive-oil which is
burned before the altar. According to a pious legend, the
Virgin Mother hid herself in this grotto after the angel had ap
peared to St. Joseph and told him to fly to Egypt. Whilst she
nursed the divine Infant, a drop of her milk fell upon the soft
stone, and since that time the mothers of that country who can
not nurse their babes come to this grotto, and, scraping off some
of the stone, swallow the scraping, and, invoking the interces
sion of Mary, obtain the privilege they seek.
Leaving Bethlehem, let us pass into the " hill-country " of
Judea. About seven miles from Jerusalem, situated on a plain,
surrounded by craggy mountains, is Ain Karim, or ST. JOHN IN
THE MOUNTAINS, the place where St. John the Baptist was born,
and where the Blessed Virgin visited her cousin, St. Elizabeth.
Although the country is rocky beyond description, yet so fertile
is the soil that trees, gardens, and vineyards thrive there with
little or no care on the part of the people. Over the spot where
St. John was born is a church and monastery. The church
contains a picture by Murillo of St. John in the Wilderness.
TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
687
About a quarter of a mile from the village, upon the side of a
hill, is a convent, the country-house of the Sisters of Sion, to the
left of which is a church where once stood the house of the
visitation. The church stands in the midst of the ruins of a
church built by the crusaders. On entering we come face to
face with an altar, beneath which is an inscription stating that
this is the place where the Blessed Virgin and St. Elizabeth met,
and whereon St. Elizabeth pronounced her ' l blessed among
women." Near by this church is a small cave in which St.
INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL OF THE NATIVITY.
John the Baptist was concealed during the slaughter of the
innocents.
Eeturning to Jerusalem, let us take the road through the
Valley of Gihon, following the course of the brook Cedron, and
visit the Dead Sea and the Eiver Jordan. After a three hours'
ride we come to the famous Convent of Mar Sabas, built on the
edge of a precipice, and one of the most picturesque objects in
all Palestine. The convent, with its numerous buildings ar
ranged in terraces on the side of the mountain, like the benches
of an amphitheatre, and with balconies overhanging the precipice,
harmonizes perfectly with the rude grandeur of the surround-
688 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
ing scenery. The convent was founded by St. Sabas, who was
born about the middle of the fifth century. In its early days it
was frequently attacked by the Persians, and finally about the
beginning of the seventh century it was plundered by them,
and its inhabitants, to the number of about four thousand, were
massacred. Leaving the convent, we start for the DEAD SEA.
The scenery is wildly beautiful, and the road for some distance
runs dangerously near to a precipice. On our way we pass the
supposed Tomb of Moses. A convent, built over the spot in the
fourth century, was taken possession of by the Mussulmen, who
converted it into a mosque. A short ride from this place brings
us to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is forty-six miles in length,
and, at its broadest part, about ten miles in width. There is
no animal life in its waters, though birds fly over and even skim
its surface. The River Jordan and some smaller rivers empty
themselves into and are lost in this sea, and mountains from
fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred feet in height surround
it on all sides. Moving up the River Jordan, an hour's journey
brings us to the PILGRIMS' BATHING PLACE. There is very little
doubt that it was at this place the Israelites crossed the Jordan
to enter the land of promise, and here Elias and Eliseus crossed
the Jordan dry-footed, and it is the constant tradition of every
age and race that it was here that our blessed Lord was baptized
by St. John.
Leaving the Jordan behind us we move toward JERICHO, * c the
city of palm-trees," as Moses described it when, looking down
from Mount Nebo, he saw it stretched out before him. In this
neighborhood took place many of the events described in the lives
of the prophets Elias and Eliseus. Here David crossed the Jordan
when fleeing from Absalom. Near here St. John preached
penance. About two miles to the north rises the barren, deso
late Mountain of Temptation, where Christ fasted for forty
days, and was afterward tempted by the devil. Here He was a
guest at the house of Zacheus, and from here He began His last,
sad journey toward Jerusalem. The place is now nothing but a
heap of ruins. Among these stands a large building, now occu
pied as a barrack, said to be built over the house of Zacheus.
About ten miles north of Jerusalem on the road to Samaria
is the site of the ancient town of BETHEL, once a well-known
citv and holv nlace. now a miserable village covering three or
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
689
four acres on a hill -summit. It was at Bethel that Jacob in his
sleep had the vision of the ladder on which angels were ascend
ing to heaven and descending therefrom. It was then that he
J3 O
changed the name of the place from Luza to Bethel, which
means "the house of God." It was here that Samuel admin
istered justice to the people of Israel every year ; here Jeroboam
raised a golden calf and offered sacrifice to it ; and it was on the
road from Jericho to Bethel that the bears came out of the
forest, and tore the forty-two boys who were mocking the
THE DEAD SEA.
prophet Eliseus. On the north of Bethel may be seen the rocky
heights which bound the heritage of Benjamin, separating it
from that of Ephraim. To the south can be seen the heights of
Jerusalem, and just the summit of Mount Olivet. To the south
and southwest are the villages of Gibeon, Gibeah, and Giba.
The Yalley of Bethoron is also visible from Bethel. It is mem
orable as the scene of Josue's victory over the five kings of the
Amorrhites, and of the victory of Judas Machabeus over the
Syrians. The road connecting the upper and the lower Bethoron
is still i c the great road of communication and heavy transport
between Jerusalem and the seacoast." Proceeding northward,
690 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
we take the road to Silo, passing through a pleasant valley fertile
in olive groves and fig orchards. Silo, once a famous place, is
now a ruin. There the boy Samuel was taken to minister before
the Lord. From there the Ark of the Covenant was sent to the
camp of the Israelites with the hope of retrieving their fortunes
in the battle won by the Philistines near Bethoron. The an
cient ruins on the plateau, where once stood the Ark of the
Covenant, are now scattered about in confusion. Proceeding
over a beautiful plain we reach JACOB'S WELL. It was by this
well Our Saviour was seated when the Samaritan woman came
to draw water. It is one of the localities connected with the
life of Our Lord which is undisputed. Formerly there was a
square hole opening into a carefully built vaulted chamber,
about ten feet square, in the floor of which was the mouth of the
well. Now a part of the vault has fallen in and completely cov
ered up the mouth, so that nothing can be seen but a shallow pit
half filled with stones and rubbish. The well is about seventy-five
feet deep, and while it sometimes contains a few feet of water,
at other times it is perfectly dry. It is entirely excavated in the
solid rock, perfectly round, nine feet in diameter, with the sides
hewn smooth and regular.
From Jacob's Well we proceed to SICHEM, an important
place in Jewish history. The situation of the town is one of
great beauty. It lies in a sheltered valley protected by Mount
Garizim on the south, and Ilebal or Ebal on the north. The
feet of these mountains where they rise from the town are not
more than five hundred yards apart. The bottom of the valley
is about eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, and
the top of Garizim eight hundred feet higher still. The site of
the present city, which is called Ncibulus, believed to have been
also that of the Hebrew city, is exactly on the water-summit ;
and streams issuing from the numerous springs there flow down
the opposite slopes of the valley, spreading verdure and fertility
in every direction, and making the place the paradise of the
Holy Land. The place is the seat of an active commerce, and
of a comparative luxury to be found in very few of the inland
oriental cities. Its population consists of Mohammedans,
Greek Christians, Samaritans, and Jews. The enmity between
the Samaritans and the Jews is as inveterate still as it was in the
days of Our Saviour, when the former refused Him admission
A TEIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 691
into one of their cities, ' i because His face was of one going to
Jerusalem," or, in other words, because He was going to Jeru
salem. The mountains Garizim and Ebal are remarkable from
the fact that owing to their strange formation persons standing
in the plain can hear distinctly every word that is spoken on the
top of either mountain. It was these mountains that were
chosen by Josue for the first assembly of the Israelites, half of
the people being marshalled on one side and half on the other.
Leaving Mount Garizim, let us follow the road that leads to
SAMARIA. The village stands on a hill ; it is tolerably built, and
is covered with fine gardens and plantations, interspersed with
numerous remains of antiquity, such as the ruins of a church
dating back in all probability to the time of the apostles, some
columns of a temple, and portions of a long colonnade, supposed
to have been erected by Herod the Great. Samaria was founded
by Amri, the sixth. King of Israel, and until the Captivity,
B.C. 720, it continued to be the capital of the ten tribes of Israel,
It afterwards gave name to the province of Samaria.
Leaving Samaria, let us move on to MOUNT CARMEL. This
famous mountain forms the extremity of a range of hills which
extend northwest from the plain of Esdraelon, rounding the
Bay of Acre on its south side, and terminating in a steep prom-
692 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
ontory in the Mediterranean. It is about fifteen hundred feet
in height ; its summit is covered by pines and oaks, and fur
ther down are olives and laurels. Modern travellers delight
to describe the rocky dells of Mount Car m el, with its deep jun
gles of copse, its shrubberies thicker than any others in central
Palestine, its impenetrable brushwood of oaks and evergreens,
tenanted in the wilder parts by a profusion of game, but in other
places l ' bright with hollyhocks, jasmine, and various flowering
creepers. ' '
It was on Mount Carmel that the prophet Elias called down
fire from heaven, and confounded the priests of Baal, and showed
the power of God. Afterward by imploring God's aid he
caused rain to fall on the parched land. The place of the sacri
fice of Elias is still pointed out, and the convent and church of
the Carmelite Fathers is built over the cave in which the prophet
dwelt. The convent is a square two-story building, and will ac
commodate seventy-five pilgrims. The most remarkable places
outside the church and convent are the School of the Prophets,
the Valley of the Martyrs, and the Fountain of Elias. The
Holy Family, it is said, dwelt at the School of the Prophets,
while they were at Carmel, on their return from Egypt. It is
only a cave in the side of the mountain between the convent
and the seashore. The Valley of the Martyrs is a plain about
a mile south of the convent, and near it is the Fountain of Elias.
About eighteen miles from Haifa, which is the town below
Mount Carmel, is NAZAKETH. The town is situated among the
hills which constitute the south ridge of Lebanon, just before
they sink down into the plain of Esdraelon. It contains about
three or four thousand inhabitants, a few of them Mohammedans,
but most Greek or Catholic Christians. Most of the houses are
well built, of stone, and appear neat and comfortable. The
streets are narrow and crooked, and after a rain are almost im
passable on account of the mud. The first building we meet on
entering Nazareth from the south is the Church of the Annun
ciation. In architectural design and artistic finish it is one of the
finest churches in Palestine. The high altar, dedicated to the
archangel Gabriel, is reached by marble steps on either side.
Beneath it is the crypt, which is reached by a broad flight of
fifteen marble steps. Here is the Holy grotto, called the Chapel
of the Annunciation. In this grotto stands a marble altar ded-
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
693
icated to the Blessed Virgin, and on the stone under it is the in
scription, " Hie Verbum caro factum est" —"Here the Word
was made Hesh." On the right and left of the altar are columns
which mark the places where the archangel and the Blessed Vir
gin stood during their interview, and close by is the tomb of St.
Joseph. The Holy House of Nazareth itself is, as our readers
well know, now in the city of Loretto, Italy. When the Turks
conquered Palestine, the Holy House was, to all appearances,
NAZARETH
doomed to destruction. But an all-powerful Providence inter
vened, and in a most miraculous manner preserved this sacred
relic. Early in the morning of May 10, 1291, the inhabitants
of Dalmatia were astonished to find resting on a hill midway be
tween Tersate and Fiume, two towns near the coast of the Adri
atic, a small house which had never been seen there before. It
was built of a red sandstone entirely unknown in that country,
and, without foundation, was resting on the bare ground. It
had but one door with one beam for door-posts, and but one
small window. On the inner walls were several paintings,
though much effaced and neglected. The ceiling was painted
694 A TRIP TO THE HOLT LAND.
blue and studded here and there with stars. In one end stood
a stone altar and above it an image of the crucifixion. On one
side of the altar, in a niche, was an image of the Blessed Virgin ;
on the other side was a closet containing a few earthen vessels.
While the wondering crowds stood gazing and discussing the
strange event, the parish priest of the place appeared on the
scene. This was another surprise, for he had been confined to
his bed for the three years previous by a severe attack of dropsy.
To the eager listeners this venerable pastor, whose name was Alex
ander di Giorgi, declared that during the previous night the Blessed
Virgin had appeared to him in a dream and assured him that
this unknown building was no other than the house in which she
had dwelt at Nazareth ; that the altar was the same erected by St.
Peter ; and that the crucifix and statue, both of cedar- wood, had
been made by St. Luke. In proof of the truth of her words the
vision promised him complete recovery from his illness, and, as
they could see for themselves, such recovery had taken place.
On hearing these words the astonishment of the people was turned
to joy, and with feelings of deepest gratitude the simple peasants
knelt down and venerated the precious relic. As the news spread
multitudes of curious and pious Christians came from surround
ing districts. But, strange to say, after the space of three years
and seven months, on December 10, 1294, the Holy House dis
appeared one night as strangely and suddenly as it had come,
and was carried by angels over the Adriatic Sea to Ancona, in
Italy, and set down in the midst of a grove of laurel-trees.
From lauretum^ the Latin term for laurel, the place has come
to be called Loretto.
Leaving the Church of the Annunciation, let us visit the Foun
tain of the Blessed Virgin, so called because tradition has it
that our blessed Lady came daily to draw water from it.
Being the only spring in the place, it has to supply all the inhab
itants, and yet has never been known to fail. The people of
every class and creed have the greatest veneration for it. From
the fountain let us go to the WORKSHOP OF ST. JOSEPH, sit
uated to the northeast of the Church of the Assumption. It is
a plain, small building, of which only a portion of the original
walls still remain, the most of it being rebuilt. The site and
chapel attached now belong to the Franciscans. The chapel is an
humble one, but it has a beautiful marble altar, beneath which is
A TEIP TO THE HOLT LAND.
695
inscribed, "Hie erat sulditus illis" — " Here He was subject to
them." In the western and upper part of the town is the
Chapel of Mensa Christi, or "Table of Christ." On the floor
is a large stone on which, according to tradition, our blessed Lord
ate with His apostles both before and after His resurrection.
About two miles outside the town of Nazareth is the MOUNT OF
PRECIPITATION, where the Nazarenes brought Our Saviour that
they might cast Him down headlong.
About six or eight miles almost due east from Nazareth is
MOUNT THABOR.
MOUNT THABOR. It rises about a thousand feet above the level
of the plain, and as seen from a distance is beautiful and symmet
rical in its proportions. The body of the mountain is of the
limestone peculiar to the country ; on it is a comparatively dense
forest of oaks, and other trees and bushes, with an occasional
opening on the sides, and a small uneven tract on the summit.
It takes about an hour, over a steep and circuitous path, to reach
the top, which consists of an irregular platform, embracing a
circuit of half an hour's walk, and commanding extensive and
beautiful views. On the east may be seen the entire outline of
the Sea of Tiberias and some of its waters, the course of the
Jordan for miles, the fortresslike mountains of Hauran, and the
mountains of Gilead and Bashan ; Hermon and intervening hills
$96 A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
on the north and northeast, Carmel on the northwest ; on the
west the Mediterranean and the plains of Galilee ; on the south
Gilboa, Endor, and Nairn. All around the top of Mount Thabor
are the foundations of a thick wall built of large stones, some of
which are bevelled, showing that the entire wall was originally of
that character. In several parts are the remains of towers and
bastions. The chief remains are upon the ledge of rocks on the
south of the little basin, and especially toward its eastern end;
here are, in indiscriminate confusion, walls, and arches, and foun
dations apparently of dwelling-houses, as well as other buildings,
some of hewn and some of large bevelled stones. The walls and
traces of a fortress are seen here, and further west along the south
ern brow, of which one tall pointed arch of a Saracenic gateway is
still standing, and bears the name of Bab-el-llcwa, "Gate of
the Wind." Tradition points to Mount Thabor as the scene of
the transfiguration of Our Lord, which is described in the ninth
chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark. There is a beautiful church
on the spot where Our Lord was transfigured, and near by is the
Franciscan convent. There is an abundance of pure spring- water
on the mountain, and rich cornfields and luxuriant vineyards,
while herds of sheep and goats graze on its sides. On the top is
a cave said to have been inhabited by Melchisedech.
In the immediate neighborhood of Mount Thabor are NAIM
and ENDOR, the one memorable as the scene of the restoring to
life of the widow's son, the other as the place where Saul on
the eve of his last engagement with the Philistines consulted a
witch, a woman who had " a divining spirit."
About four and a half miles northeast of Nazareth is
CAN A. It is situated on a "broad hillock, and is surrounded
by olive groves and fig orchards. It was at Cana that Our
Lord performed His first miracle, changing water into wine.
There are two churches here, and each claims to be built over
the house in which this miracle took place. Besides, one
claims to have in its possession one of the water-pots used in the
miracle.
From Cana let us make our way to the MOUNT OF BEATITUDES,
which is on the road to Tiberias. The mount — for it is not
high enough to be dignified by the name of mountain — stands in
the centre of an immense rocky plain. It was from this place
that our blessed Saviour delivered His sermon, which is recorded
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. 697
in St. Matthew, chapters v., vi., and vii., and near by is the scene
of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
Three miles further on we reach TIBERIAS on the shore of
the Sea of Galilee. It was on the border of this sea that our
blessed Lord showed Himself to His disciples for the third time
after His resurrection, and here it was that He commissioned St.
Peter to feed His lambs and His sheep. The Lake of Tiberias
THE RIVER JORDAN.
often mentioned in the New Testament, is also called the Lake
of Genesareth, the Lake of Capharnaum, the Sea of Galilee.
Numerous cities once existed along its shores and its waters were
white with sails. Tiberias, in the days of Our Lord, was a large
city and the seat of the province of Galilee. It no longer exists,
the present city of the name being three miles further north.
Two other once famous cities. CAPHARNAUM and BETHSAIDA,
also stood on the Lake of Tiberias. The main interest attaching
to Capharnaum is as the residence of Our Lord and His apostles,
the scene of many of His miracles. It was there that the man
troubled by the unclean spirit was cured, that the other man sick
698
A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND.
of the palsy was made well, that the servant of the centurion
was healed. Bethsaida was the birthplace of the apostles Peter,
Philip, and Andrew. The doom which Our Lord pronounced
against Capharnaum, Bethsaida, and Corozain (Matt, xi.) has
been literally fulfilled, for there is hardly a stone left upon a
stone to mark the places where they once stood.
Before closing this sketch let us take a look at Tyre and
Sidon. Ancient TYKE was one of the most celebrated cities of
antiquity, and the most important city of Phenicia. It is first
mentioned in the Bible in Josue xix. 29 as " the strong city."
Further on we find that Hiram, King of Tyre, sent cedar-
wood and workmen to King David to build for him a palace.
Tyre was noted for its skill in the mechanical arts for we learn
from in. Kings v. that Hiram sent his sailors and servants to
help Solomon in building the temple. Filled with pride at its
riches and prosperity, Tyre called down on itself the curse of
the Almighty. Time and again it was destroyed only to spring
to life again, but in the thirteenth century its glory departed
forever. In the city that stands on the site of ancient Tyre
may still be seen, scattered here and there, shafts of gray and
red granite, capitals of many-colored marble, and other remains
of ancient glory. It was at Tyre that Our Lord healed the
daughter of the woman of Chanaan, and St. Paul visited the
city on his way to Jerusalem. Twenty miles from Tyre is its
ancient rival SIDON. Its people were noted for their skill as
mechanics, manufacturers, and navigators. Like Tyre this city
was ruined by its prosperity. As our purpose is more to con
sider the Holy Land in connection with the life of Our Lord,
we shall dismiss Sidon, merely remarking that it was the scene
of one of Our Saviour's miracles, which is thus recorded in the
Gospel of St. Mark vii. 31-35: "Going out of the coasts of
Tyre, He came by Sidon to the Sea of Galilee through the
midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring to Him one
deaf and dumb ; and they besought Him that He would lay His
hand upon him. And taking him from the multitude apart,
He put His fingers into his ears, and spitting, He touched his
tongue. And looking up to heaven, He groaned, and said to
him : Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. And immediately
his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed>
and he spoke right."
INDEX.
Abomination of Desolation, The, 344.
Abstinence, Days of, 18.
Acts, Short, of the most necessary vir
tues to be inculcated in the time of
sickness, 620.
Adoration, Act of, 521.
Advent, Instruction on, 20.
Adversities and afflictions, Consola
tion in, 28.
Alleluia, what the word means, 209.
All Saints, Feast of, 449.
All Souls' Day, 455.
Aloysius, St. , Feast of, 399 ; On the
following of, 399.
Altar, Sacrament of the, 258.
Altar, why of stone, 480 ; why cov
ered with linen cloths, 480.
Andrew, St., Feast of, 352.
Angelic Salutation, Instruction on the,
388.
Anger and abusive words, 278 ; Rem
edies for, 278.
Ann, St., Feast of, 421.
Annunciation, Feast of the, 386.
Answer to objections to the Mass and
Purgatory, 221.
Anxiety, Excessive, to be abstained
from, 308.
Ascension of Our Lord, Feast of the,
234.
Ashes, why blessed, 87; Why the
Faithful are sprinkled with, 87.
Ash- Wednesday, Instruction on, 87.
Assisting a sick person in danger of
death, 334.
Assumption, Feast of the, 423.
Augustine, St., Maxims of, 237.
Avarice, 316.
Baptism, a sacrament, 253 ; Ceremo
nies at, 467 ; Instruction on, 253,
467.
Baptist, St. John the, 27, 28 ; Feast
of, 400.
Bartholomew, St., Feast of, 427.
Beatitudes, the Eight, Explanation of,
451.
Belief in God, what it is, 220.
Believe, What we must," 220.
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament,
474.
Bishop, Prayer for our, 614; Prayer
for all bishops, 614.
Blase, St., Feast of, 376.
Blasphemy, what it is, 325.
Bless, What is meant by to, 48.
Blessings, in general, 19 ; of parents,
49 ; of priests, 49 ; of salt, 19 ; in
Scripture, 49 ; of water, 19.
Blessed Sacnanent, An hour's adora
tion before the, 667.
Blessed Virgin, Annunciation of the,
386 ; Assumption of the, 423 ; Im
maculate Conception of the, 356;
Nativity of the, 428 ; Prayer to the,
523 ; Presentation of the, 460 ; Puri
fication of the, 373 ; Salutation to
the, 390 ; Seven Dolors of the, 390 ;
Visitation of the, 411.
Blind man, History of the, 86.
Bridget, St., Feast of, 371.
Burial-ground, Prayer in a, 626.
Calumny, Instruction on, 287.
Can a, Wedding at, why Jesus was
there, 62.
Candle, Paschal, and its meaning, 206.
Candles, Lighted, why placed around
coffins, 313.
Candlemas Day, 373.
Candlestick, Triple, and its meaning,
206.
Catharine, St. , Feast of, 462.
Centurion and Our Saviour, 65.
Ceremonies at burials, 313.
Chants, Joyful, why omitted from
Septuagesima till Easter, 75.
Charity, An act of, 525 ; Advantages
of, 85 ; Necessities of, 85 ; Qualities
of, 85 ; why called the Bond of
Perfection, 70.
Child, Prayer of a, 610.
Christ, a sign that shall be contra
dicted, 50 ; by what power He cast
700
IKDEX.
out the devil, 120 ; For whose sal
vation is, 50 ; Making straight the
way of , 31 ; Temptation of, 95 ; the
Good Shepherd, 223 ; the resur
rection and fall of many, 50 ;
Transfiguration of, 106 ; Whose Son
is, 317 ; why called Jesus, 52 ;
Why the Pharisees murmured
against, 273.
Christian Life, Perfection of, 225.
Christians, why so many bad, 82.
Christmas Eve, 36.
Christmas, Instruction on, 36 ; What
the Church commemorates at, 15.
Christs, False, 345.
Church, compared to a grain of mus
tard-seed, 74 ; compared to leaven,
74 ; Feast of the dedication of a, 345;
Marks of the true, 220 ; Prayer for
the, 614.
Circumcision, why Christ submitted
to, 52.
Commendation and petition, 530.
Communion, Acts after, 575 ; Acts
before, 563 ; Aspirations of Love
after, 582 ; Devotions for, 560;
Prayers after, 580 ; as a Viaticum,
622 ; when and how instituted,
258 ; why given in one kind, 260.
Confession, Devotions for, 542 ;
Prayers after, 557.
Confirmation, a sacrament, 246 ; In
structions on, 470; Grace conferred
by, 246.
Conscience, Examination of, 544.
Contrition, An act of, 522, 529, 553.
Conversion of St. Paul, 368.
Corpus Christi, Feast of, 256.
Cross, Exaltation of the, 431 ; Find
ing of the, 395 ; Sign of the, 398,
482 ; Way of the, 432, 587.
Crucifix, why placed on the altar
480.
Darkness, Works of, 22.
Deaf and dumb man, Cure of the, 296
Death, On, 312.
Dedication of a church, Instruction
on the anniversary of the, 345.
Devil, How Christ cast out the, 121 ;
The dumb, 121 ; How we render
harmless the darts of the, 335.
Divine virtues, 524.
Dolors, Feast of the Seven, 390.
Dying, Indulgence for the, 476.
Easter, Instruction on, 208 ; What
the Church commemorates at, 15.
Easter Candle, Meaning of the, 206 ;
why extinguished on Ascension
Day, 237.
Ecclesiastical Year, 15 ; how divided,
16.
Ember Days, Instruction en the.
18.
Enemies, How to be reconciled with
our, 279.
Epiphany, The Feast of, 54; why
so called, 54 ; The Sunday after the,
Eucharist, The Most Holy, 472.
Evangelical Counsels, 225.
Evening Devotions, 528.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast
of the, 431.
Examination of conscience, 544 ; In
struction on, 543.
Exercise, Daily, for various states of
life, 609.
Extreme Unction, 624 ; Instruction on
476.
Faith, An act of, 524; not sufficient
for salvation, 221.
Famine and pestilence, Prayer in
time of, 615.
Farm-hand, Prayer of a, 610.
Fast, How we should, 89 ; of Lent,
how kept in early times, 89; why
instituted before Easter, 89.
Fast- days, Instruction on, 18, 89.
Fasting, Origin of, 89.
Fathers and mothers, Instruction for
332.
Feast-days, Instructions on, 17.
Feasts, Movable, 8.
Fishes, Meaning of the miraculous
draught of, 276.
Finding of the Holy Cross, 395.
Francis of Assisi, St., 444 ; Third
Order of, 446.
Francis Xavier, St., 355.
Friday, Abstinence on, 18.
Fruits of the Holy Ghost, 243.
Gertrude, St., Prayer of, 579.
Gifts of the Holy Ghost, 242 ; of the
Wise Men, 57."
Gluttony and intemperance, 312.
God, Effect of the Word of, 82 ; How
we are made children of, 46 ; How
we misuse the gifts of, 286; Love of,
how shown, 244 ; Love of, and of
our neighbor, 300, 301 ; One na
ture, three persons in, 254 ; Prayer
to obtain the love of, 301 ; Sacrifice
of our bodies to, 58 ; The peace of,
29 ; Why we should love, 245.
Good intention, 524.
Good Friday, Instruction on, 198;
Why there is no Mass on, 204.
Good Shepherd, Christ the, 223.
Good Works, Instruction on, 284.
Grateful, To be, 304 ; Prayer to be,
305.
Guardian Angels, Prayer to, 523.
INDEX.
701
Hail Mary, Instruction on the, 388.
Headstone, why erected over a grave,
314.
Heaven, Joys of, 330.
Heretics and Schismatics, Prayer for,
616.
Holy Church, Prayer for, 614.
Holy Cross, Exaltation of the, 431 ;
Finding of the, 395 ; Sign of the,
398, 482.
Holy-days, Instruction on, 17.
Holy Father the Pope, Prayer for
our, 614.
Holy Ghost, effect of His descent on
the apostles, 241 ; Fruits of the, 243;
Gifts of the, 242 ; how He has con
vinced the world of sin, of justice,
and of judgment, 230 ; how He
teaches all truths, 231 ; why called
a spirit, and the Holy Spirit, 241 ;
why He appeared under visible
signs, 240.
Holy Innocents, Feast of the, 365.
Holy Land, A trip to the, 673.
Holy Orders, Instruction on the Sac
rament of, 305.
Holy Saturday, 205 ; why so called,
206.
Holy Thursday, 193.
Holy Water, for what used, 19 ; In
struction on, 19.
Holy Week, 177.
Honor, What to do when attacked in
our, 64.
Hope, Act of, 524; Instruction on,
224.
Humility, 32 ; Example of, 295 ;
Lesson on, 293.
Hypocrites, 339.
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin, 356.
Impurity, Lessons on, 263 ; should
not be mentioned, 120.
Incarnation, Blessings received
through the, 48.
Incense, 482.
Indulgences, 326, 475.
Innocents, Feast of the Holy, 365.
Instruction on Sundays, 16.
Intemperance, Instruction on , 270.
Interment of the dead, 313.
Invocabit Sunday, why so called, 94.
James, St., the Greater, Feast of, 419.
James and Philip, SS., Feast of, 393.
Jerusalem, Christ entering, 167 ;
Christ weeping over, 289; Heavenly,
137.
Jesus and the Leper, 66 ; during the
tempest, 68 ; How we must speak
the name of, 53 ; Power of the
namv. of, 52 ; Temptation of, 95 ;
Transfiguration of, 106 ; Who gave
Christ the name of, 52 ; Why He
entered Jerusalem with such solem
nity, 168 ; Why the Pharisees mur
mured against, 273.
Joachim, St., Feast of, 425.
John the Baptist, St., 27, 28, 31, 400.
John the Evangelist, St. , Feast of, 363.
Joseph, St., Feast of, 383 ; Patronage
of, 224 ; Prayer to, 386.
Joyful chants, why omitted from
Septuagesima till Easter, 75.
Judgment, The Last, 23 ; how it will
begin, 23 ; signs preceding it, 23.
Just, God protects the, 277.
Justice of the Pharisees, 278.
Kingdom of heaven, what it is, 72.
Laborers in the vineyard, 78.
Lcetare Sunday, 136.
Last Day, 344.
Last Judgment, how it will begin, 23 ;
signs preceding it, 23.
Leaven, Why the Church is compared
to, 74.
Lent, Instruction on, 89.
Leper, Cure of the, 66.
Leprosy in a spiritual sense, 304.
Light, Armor of, 22 ; Why Christ is
called a, 244.
Litany, of the Blessed Virgin, 531 ; of
the Holy Name, 525 ; of the Saints,
535.
Loaves and Fishes, The miracle of the,
137.
Lord's Prayer, Explanation of the, 233.
Lost, The, not God's fault, 244.
Love of God, 300 ; Prayer to obtain
the, 301.
Love of our neighbor, 318.
Love the fulfilment of the law, 68.
Low Sunday, 218.
Magnificat, Explanation of the, 413.
Mammon of iniquity, Make friends of
the, 286.
Man, God's spiritual temple, 348.
Manner of assisting a person in danger
of death, 334.
Marks of the true Church, 220.
Marriage, ring, 478; Sacrament of,
477.
Married people, Prayer of, 609.
Martin, St., Feast of, 457.
Mary, the Blessed Virgin, 48; How
her soul was pierced, 50.
Mary Magdalen, St., Feast of, 416.
Mass, Hearing, spiritually, when pre
vented from going to church, 508 ;
Instructions on the ceremonies of the,
479, 482 ; Hearing, in union with the
prayers of the priest, 512; Objections
702
INDEX.
to the, 221 ; Prayers at, 483 ; Sym
bolical objects used at, 482 ; Vest
ments used at, 481.
Masters, 66.
Matthias, St., Feast of, 377.
Matrimony, Instructions on, 477 ; bac-
rament of, 477.
Matthew, St., Feast of, 433.
Maundy Thursday, 193.
Mernorare, The, 613.
Mercy, Works of, 284.
Michael, St., Feast of, 436.
Mockery and ridicule, 342.
Morning Devotions, 521.
Mustard-seed, Why the Church, is
compared to a, 74.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Feast
of the, 428.
Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Feast
of the, 400.
Neighbor, Love of our, 318 ; We
must not wish evil to our, 64.
New Year, Prayers for, 53; Why we
wish one another a happy, 51.
New Year's Day, why so called, 51 ;
What feast the Church celebrates on,
51.
Object of the devotion to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, 266.
Oblation, Act of, 522.
Oculi Sunday, why so called, 119.
Offertory, 515.
Oils, Holy, 477.
Order, Third, of St. Francis, 446.
Orders, Sacrament of Holy, 305.
Parable, of the Great Supper, 262 ;
Pharisee and Publican, 293; Prodigal
Son, 118 ; Rich Man and his Stew
ard, 286 ; Sheepfold, 247 ; Wicked
Servant, 335 ; Widow of Nairn, 310.
Palm Sunday, Instruction on, 166.
Palms, why blessed, 166.
Palsy, The man sick of the, 325.
Paschal Candle, its significance, 206.
Passion of Our Lord, 168, 179, 185, 197.
Passover, what it is, 208.
Patience in adversity, 228.
Patrick, St., 379.
Paul, St., 368 ; Conversion of, 368.
Peace, 216 ; of God, in what it consists,
29.
Penance, Instruction on the Sacrament
of, 474.
Pentecost, Instruction on, 239 ; The
number of Sundays after, 342 ;
What the Church commemorates at,
16.
Pestilence, Prayer in time of, 615.
Peter and Paul, SS., Feast of, 404.
Peter, St., Why Christ taught from
the ship of, 276.
Petition and commendation to God,
522.
Pharisees, why they murmured
against Christ, 273.
Philip and James, SS., Feast of, 393.
Pope, the head of the Church, 409 ;
Prayer for the, 614.
Poor, Consolation for the, 139, 308 ;
Liberality towards the, 286.
Poverty, Consolation in, 308.
Pray to God, Why, 232.
Prayer and instruction for the sick and
dying, 618.
Prayer, Family, 533 ; for a sick per
son, 535, 616; for forgiveness of
sins, 615 ; for heretics and schis
matics, 616 ; for husband or wife,
617 ; for our friends, 616 ; for
parents and their children, 617 ; for
the Church, 614 ; for the civil au
thorities, 614 ; for the dead, 616 ;
for the governor of our State, 614;
for the Pope, 614 ; for the Presi
dent of the United States, 614 ; for
various occasions, 614 ; in a burial-
ground, 626 ; in any necessity, 615;
in time of famine and pestilence,
615 ; just before going to bed, 532 ;
The best, 233 ; why often not
heard, 232.
Presence, Real, of Our Lord in the
Blessed Eucharist, 260.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin,
Feast of the, 460.
Priests, how to be regarded by the
people, 33, 66.
Prodigal Son, Parable of the, 118.
Prophets, False, 283, 345.
Purgatory, Instruction on, 455 ; Ob
jections to, 221
Purification of the Blessed Virgin, 373.
Purity, On, 364.
Quinquagesima Sunday, 84.
Real Presence of Our Lord in the
Blessed Eucharist, 260.
Redeemer, A, necessary, 20.
Relics of Saints, Instruction on, 350.
R&miniscere Sunday, why so called,
104.
Repentance, Death-bed, 290.
Resurrection of Our Lord, The, 210 ;
the foundation of our Faith, 215.
Riches, 307.
Ring, Wedding, 478.
Rogation Days, 234.
Rosary, Feast of the Most Holy, 441 ;
Instruction on the, 441.
Ruler's, The, Daughter, 341.
Rulers, Prayer for temporal, 614.
Sacrament of the Altar, what it is,
258.
INDEX.
703
Sacraments, can a priest administer
them as he pleases ? 33 ; Instruction
on the number of, 407.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Act of conse
cration to the, 269 ; Act of repara
tion to the, 636 ; Consecration to
the, 636, 637; Devotions to the, 266,
627 ; Devotion of the First Fridays
to the , 627 ; Guard of honor to the,
649 ; Hour of adoration to the, 641 ;
Instruction on the Feast of the,
264 ; Invitation to the, 648 ; Invoca
tions to the, 639 ; Prayer to the, 386;
Seven days' devotion to the, 651.
Saints, invocation of the, 351 ; Vener
ation of the, 350.
Salutation, Angelic, explanation of
the, 388.
Salve Regina, 613.
Saviour, Our, Suffering of, 86 ; how
He proved He was risen from the
dead, 210 ; why He retained the
marks of His wounds, 216.
Scandal, The sin of, 238.
Scapular of Mt. Cannel, 414.
Scripture, Instruction on Holy, 217.
Seed, Good, and the Cockle, Parable of
the, 71.
Septuagesima Sunday, 75.
Sermon, Prayer after a, 84 ; What to
do after a, 83 ; What to do before
a, 83 ; What to do during a, 83.
Servant, Prayer of a, 610.
Sheep, Parable of the lost, 272.
Sick, Devotions for the, 618 ; Instruc
tions and prayers for the. 610 ; On
the care of the, 333 ; Short acts for
the, 620.
Sickness, Consolation in, 333 ; How
to accept sickness and death, 611.
Simeon, 48.
Simon and Jude, SS., Feast of, 447.
Sin, 21 ; By thought, 289.
Solicitude, Unreasonable, 308.
Son of Man, Why Christ calls Him
self the, 408.
Sorrow, Best remedy in, 30.
Spiritual Temple, Practical Lessons
on the, 348.
Stations of the Cross, 587.
Stephen, St., Feast of, 360.
Sunday, how it should be kept, 16 ;
how kept holy, 16 ; how profaned,
17; Instruction on, 16; Keeping holy,
316 ; Number of Sundays after
Pentecost, 342 ; White Sunday,
why so called, 218 ; why called
the Lord's Day, 16 ; why kept by
Christians, 16.
Superiors, Practical instructions for,
61.
Swearing, Instruction on, 279.
Temptation, 96 ; Means to overcome
96.
Tempting God, 289.
Tenebrse, Instructions on, 192.
Testimony of St. John the Baptist of
Christ, 44.
Thanksgiving, Act of, 521.
Thomas, St., Feast of , 358.
Tribulation, Prayer in any, 615.
Trinity, Most Holy, Feast of the,
250 ; Instruction on the, 254.
Unbelievers and heretics, Prayer for,
616.
Unction, Extreme, 624.
Usury, 309.
Vessels, Sacred, 480.
Vestments, Meaning of the, 481.
Viaticum, Holy Communion as a, 622;
Prayers after, 623.
Vigils, 18.
Vineyard, Lord's, 78.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Feast
of the, 411.
Water, Baptismal, 207 ; Holy, 19 ;
its use, 19.
Way of the Cross, 587 ; Instruction
on the, 432.
Week-days, 19.
Week, Holy, 177.
Wicked, The, why not destroyed,
Widows, Lessons for, 51.
Wise Men, The, 56 ; why they came
to seek Jesus, 56.
Women, Blessing of, after child
birth, 375.
Word, Meaning of the, 44 ; Made
Flesh, 46 ; of God compared to a
seed, 82; Effect when heeded,
82.
Works of mercy, Corporal, 284 ;
Spiritual, 284.
Wounds, Why Our Lord kept the
marks of His, 216.
Xavier, Francis, St., Feast of, 355.
Year, Explanation of the Ecclesiasti
cal, 15 ; What Feast is celebrated
on the first day of the New, 51.
Zacheus, Conversion of, 347.
PRINTED BV BENZIGER BROTHE
VORK.
P.35010
BX 2170 .C55 G613 1896 SMC
Goffine. Leonhard,
Goffine7s Devout
instructions on the Epistles
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